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diff --git a/old/51551-h/51551-h.htm b/old/51551-h/51551-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index 78f16d6..0000000 --- a/old/51551-h/51551-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,10265 +0,0 @@ -<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.1//EN" - "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml11/DTD/xhtml11.dtd"> -<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> -<head> -<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" /> -<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Russian Campaign, by Stanley Washburn</title> - <style type="text/css"> - -a { - text-decoration: none} - -#coverpage { - margin: 2em auto} - -body { - padding: 4px; - margin: auto 10%} - -p { - text-align: justify} - -.blackletter { - font-family: Blackletter, "Old English", Fraktur, serif; - font-size: x-large} - -.small { - font-size: small} - -.medium { - font-size: medium} - -.large { - font-size: large} - -.xlarge { - font-size: x-large;} - -h1, h2 { - page-break-before: always} - -h2:first-line { - line-height: 2em} - -h1, h2, h3, h4 { - font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; - text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ - clear: both; - margin: 2em auto} - -.ph1 { - font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; - page-break-before: always; - text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ - clear: both; - font-size: xx-large; - font-weight: bold; - margin: 2em auto} - -.ph3 { - font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; - text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ - clear: both; - font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; - font-size: large; - font-weight: bold; - margin: 2em auto} - -p.author { - text-align: right; - margin: auto 5%} - -p.drop:first-letter { - float: left; - clear: left; - font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; - font-size: 300%; - line-height: 70%; - margin: 4px 2px 0 0} - -table { - margin: auto} - -td { - text-indent: -2em; - padding: 0 4px 0 2em} - -.tdr { - vertical-align: top; - text-align: right;} - -.tdrb { - vertical-align: bottom; - text-align: right;} - -.bbox { - padding: 1em; - border-collapse: collapse; - border: solid 2px;} - -.bbox td { - text-indent: 0; - padding: 4px; - border-collapse: collapse;} - -.center { - text-align: center;} - -.smcap { - font-variant: small-caps;} - -.w50 {width: 50%} - -/* Images */ -img { - border: none; - max-width: 100%} - -.figcenter { - clear: both; - margin: 2em auto; - text-align: center;} - -.figcenter p { - font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; - font-size: small; - text-align: center} - -/* Transcriber's notes */ -.transnote { - background-color: #E6E6FA; - border: silver solid 1px; - color: black; - margin: 2em auto 5em auto; - padding: 1em} - -.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ - visibility: hidden; - color: silver; - position: absolute; - right: 1em; - font-size: small; - text-align: right; -} /* page numbers */ - -@media handheld { -p.drop:first-letter { - float: left; - clear: left;} -} - - h1.pg { margin-top: 0em; } - hr.full { width: 100%; - margin-top: 3em; - margin-bottom: 0em; - margin-left: auto; - margin-right: auto; - height: 4px; - border-width: 4px 0 0 0; /* remove all borders except the top one */ - border-style: solid; - border-color: #000000; - clear: both; } - </style> -</head> -<body> -<h1 class="pg">The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Russian Campaign, by Stanley Washburn, -Illustrated by George H. Mewes</h1> -<p>This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States -and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no -restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it -under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this -eBook or online at <a -href="http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you are not -located in the United States, you'll have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this ebook.</p> -<p>Title: The Russian Campaign</p> -<p> April to August, 1915, Being the Second Volume of "Field Notes from the Russian Front"</p> -<p>Author: Stanley Washburn</p> -<p>Release Date: March 25, 2016 [eBook #51551]</p> -<p>Language: English</p> -<p>Character set encoding: UTF-8</p> -<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE RUSSIAN CAMPAIGN***</p> -<p> </p> -<h4>E-text prepared by Brian Coe, Wayne Hammond,<br /> - and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> - (<a href="http://www.pgdp.net">http://www.pgdp.net</a>)<br /> - from page images generously made available by<br /> - Internet Archive/American Libraries<br /> - (<a href="https://archive.org/details/americana">https://archive.org/details/americana</a>)</h4> -<p> </p> -<table border="0" style="background-color: #ccccff;margin: 0 auto;" cellpadding="10"> - <tr> - <td valign="top"> - Note: - </td> - <td> - Images of the original pages are available through - Internet Archive/American Libraries. See - <a href="https://archive.org/details/russiancampaigna00wash"> - https://archive.org/details/russiancampaigna00wash</a> - </td> - </tr> -</table> -<p> </p> -<hr class="full" /> -<p> </p> -<p> </p> - -<div id="coverpage" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/cover.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h1>THE RUSSIAN CAMPAIGN<br /> - -<span class="xlarge">APRIL TO AUGUST, 1915</span></h1> - -<table class="bbox"> - <tr> - <th colspan="2">Other Books by<br />STANLEY WASHBURN.</th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><b>Trails, Trappers, and Tenderfeet</b></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>Price <b>10s. 6d.</b> net.</td> - <td class="tdr"><em>Second Edition.</em></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><b>Nogi</b></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="tdr">Large crown 8vo, <b>3s. 6d.</b> net.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><b>The Cable Game</b></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="tdr">Price <b>4s. 6d.</b> net.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><b>Two in the Wilderness:<br />A Romance of North-Western Canada</b></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>Price <b>6s.</b></td> - <td class="tdr"><em>Fourth Edition.</em></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <th colspan="2">London: Andrew Melrose, Ltd.</th> - </tr> -</table> - -<div id="frontispiece" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/frontispiece.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY -THE TSAR OF ALL THE RUSSIAS.</p> -<table class="w50"> - <tr> - <td><em>Frontispiece.</em>]</td> - <td class="tdr">[<em>Photo, Record Press.</em></td> - </tr> -</table> -</div> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_i">i</span></p> - -<p class="ph1"> -THE<br /> -RUSSIAN CAMPAIGN</p> - -<p class="ph3">APRIL TO AUGUST, 1915, BEING THE<br /> -SECOND VOLUME OF “FIELD NOTES<br /> -FROM THE RUSSIAN FRONT”</p> - -<p class="ph3">By<br /> -STANLEY WASHBURN<br /> -<br /> -(Special Correspondent of<br /> -“The Times” with the Russian Armies)</p> - -<p class="ph3">WITH PHOTOGRAPHS BY GEORGE H. MEWES</p> - -<p class="ph3">LONDON: ANDREW MELROSE, LTD.<br /> -<span class="medium">3 YORK STREET, COVENT GARDEN, W.C.</span> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_ii">ii</span></p> - -<p><em>The illustrations in this book are from the photographs of</em> -<span class="smcap">Mr. George H. Mewes</span>, <em>who accompanied Mr. Washburn in -all his tours. They are reproduced here by courtesy of the “Daily -Mirror.”</em> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_iii">iii</span></p> - -<p class="center"> -<span class="blackletter">Dedication.</span><br /> -<br /> -To<br /> -<span class="smcap">Lord Northcliffe</span> and the <span class="smcap">Editors</span> of “<cite>The Times</cite>” London<br /> -In Appreciation of a Year of Loyal Support<br /> -and Co-operation.<br /> -</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_iv">iv</span> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_v">v</span></p> - -<h2 id="INTRODUCTION">INTRODUCTION</h2> - -<p class="drop"><span class="smcap">Many</span> of my friends have urged me not to publish -this, the second volume of Field Notes from the -Russian Front, on the ground that the fortunes of -Russia and the Russian armies were on the wane, and that -the optimism which I have always felt has proved itself -unfounded by the events of the past few months. It is -for the very reason that conditions in Russia are momentarily -unfavourable that I am glad to publish this book -at this time, as a vindication of my faith and belief in -the common soldiers and officers of an army with which -I have been associated for nearly a year.</p> - -<p>During the advances and successes in Galicia and -Poland a year ago I found the Russian troops admirable, -and now in the hour of their reverses and disappointments -they are superb. I retract nothing that I have said -before, and resting my faith in the justice of the cause, -the unflinching character of the people, and the matchless -courage of the Russian soldiers, I am glad in this moment -of depression to have the chance to vindicate my own -belief in their ultimate victory in the East.</p> - -<p>The Russians for more than a year have laboured -under innumerable difficulties. Without munitions, and -handicapped in a hundred ways, they have held themselves -intact before the relentless drives of the most -efficient army in the world. Though they have fallen by -the hundreds of thousands, their spirits have not been -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_vi">vi</span> -broken. The loss of Warsaw and numerous other positions -has not shaken their <em>morale</em>. History will record -this campaign as one in which character fought against -efficient machinery, and was not found wanting. In the -final issue I have never doubted that character would -prevail. When the Russians get munitions and their -other military needs, they will again advance, and no -one who knows the Russian army doubts that within it -lies the capacity to go forward when the time is ripe.</p> - -<p>Nothing is more fallacious than to judge the outcome -of this campaign by pins moved backward or forward on -the map of Europe. There are great fundamental questions -that lie behind the merely military aspects of the -campaign; questions of morals, ethics, equity, and justice. -These qualities, backed by men of tenacity, courage, and -the capacity to sacrifice themselves indefinitely in their -cause, are greater ultimate assets than battalions and 42-centimetre -guns. That the Russians possess these assets -is my belief, and with the fixed opinion that my faith is -well-founded, and that the reverses of this summer are -but temporary and ephemeral phases of this vast campaign, -it is with equanimity and without reservation that -I have authorized my publisher to send these pages to the -printer.</p> - -<p>The defects of hurriedly written copy are of course -apparent in these notes, but, as in my first volume, it has -seemed wiser to publish them with all their faults, than -to wait until the situation has passed and news from -Russia has no moral value.</p> - -<p class="author"> -STANLEY WASHBURN.</p> - -<p> -<span class="smcap">Petrograd, Russia</span>,<br /> -<span style="padding-left: 2em"><em>September 3, 1915</em>.</span> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_vii">vii</span></p> - -<h2 id="CONTENTS">CONTENTS</h2> - -<table> - <tr> - <td>CHAP.</td> - <td></td> - <td class="tdrb">PAGE</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">I</td> - <td><a href="#CHAPTER_I"><span class="smcap">The Fall of Przemysl</span></a></td> - <td class="tdrb">3</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">II</td> - <td><a href="#CHAPTER_II"><span class="smcap">Warsaw in April, 1915</span></a></td> - <td class="tdrb">41</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">III</td> - <td><a href="#CHAPTER_III"><span class="smcap">An American Doctor in the Russian Army</span></a></td> - <td class="tdrb">53</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">IV</td> - <td><a href="#CHAPTER_IV"><span class="smcap">General Russky’s Successor</span></a></td> - <td class="tdrb">63</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">V</td> - <td><a href="#CHAPTER_V"><span class="smcap">Checking up the Situation in Poland</span></a></td> - <td class="tdrb">75</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">VI</td> - <td><a href="#CHAPTER_VI"><span class="smcap">A Visit to the Positions</span></a></td> - <td class="tdrb">87</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">VII</td> - <td><a href="#CHAPTER_VII"><span class="smcap">A Summer Day on the Rawka Line</span></a></td> - <td class="tdrb">99</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">VIII</td> - <td><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII"><span class="smcap">The Change of Front in Poland and the Battle of Opatov</span></a></td> - <td class="tdrb">113</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">IX</td> - <td><a href="#CHAPTER_IX"><span class="smcap">With the Army in Southern Poland</span></a></td> - <td class="tdrb">127</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">X</td> - <td><a href="#CHAPTER_X"><span class="smcap">An Afternoon at the “Positions”</span></a></td> - <td class="tdrb">141</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">XI</td> - <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XI"><span class="smcap">How the Russians Met the First Gas Attack</span></a></td> - <td class="tdrb">157</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">XII</td> - <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XII"><span class="smcap">Some Details Regarding the Gas Horror</span></a></td> - <td class="tdrb">169</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">XIII</td> - <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII"><span class="smcap">The Bzura Front in June</span></a></td> - <td class="tdrb">185</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">XIV</td> - <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV"><span class="smcap">The Galician Front</span></a></td> - <td class="tdrb">199</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">XV</td> - <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XV"><span class="smcap">The German Drive in Galicia</span></a></td> - <td class="tdrb">209</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">XVI</td> - <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI"><span class="smcap">The Front of Ivanov</span></a></td> - <td class="tdrb">221 -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_viii">viii</span></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">XVII</td> - <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII"><span class="smcap">Hunting for the Army of the Bukovina</span></a></td> - <td class="tdrb">235</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">XVIII</td> - <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII"><span class="smcap">The Russian Left</span></a></td> - <td class="tdrb">247</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">XIX</td> - <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX"><span class="smcap">With a Russian Cavalry Corps</span></a></td> - <td class="tdrb">259</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">XX</td> - <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XX"><span class="smcap">On the Zota Lipa</span></a></td> - <td class="tdrb">273</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">XXI</td> - <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI"><span class="smcap">A Visit to an Historic Army</span></a></td> - <td class="tdrb">289</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">XXII</td> - <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII"><span class="smcap">The New Army of the Former Dunajec Line</span></a></td> - <td class="tdrb">301</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">XXIII</td> - <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII"><span class="smcap">Back to the Warsaw Front</span></a></td> - <td class="tdrb">311</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">XXIV</td> - <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV"><span class="smcap">The Loss of Warsaw</span></a></td> - <td class="tdrb">319</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">XXV</td> - <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XXV"><span class="smcap">Conclusion</span></a></td> - <td class="tdrb">339 - <span class="pagenum" id="Page_ix">ix</span></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <th colspan="3"><h2 id="LIST_OF_ILLUSTRATIONS">LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS</h2></th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"></td> - <td class="tdrb">TO FACE<br />PAGE</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#frontispiece">His Imperial Majesty the Tsar of all the Russias</a></td> - <td class="tdrb"><em>Frontis</em>.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_004">Occupation of Przemysl by the Russians. Austrians leaving as prisoners</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">4</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_006a">Austrian prisoners leaving Przemysl</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">6</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_006b">Russian occupation of Przemysl</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">6</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_008a">Cossack patrol entering Przemysl</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">8</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_008b">Russian occupation of Przemysl. Governor’s bodyguard entering Government House</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">8</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_012a">Destroyed by the Austrians before leaving Przemysl</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">12</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_012b">Principal street in Przemysl</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">12</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_014">Austrian and Hungarian prisoners en route to Lwow</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">14</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_017">Austrian prisoners resting by the roadside during their march from Przemysl</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">17</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_020">Austrian prisoners leaving Przemysl</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">20</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_033">Russian Governor of Przemysl</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">33</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_035">Russian occupation of Przemysl. Headquarters of Staff</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">35</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_037">Feeding Austrian prisoners en route to Lwow</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">37</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_038">General Hubert, Chief of Austrian Staff in Przemysl</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">38</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_044">A Russian officer inspecting eight-inch gun</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">44</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_048">Russian bath train</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">48</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_056a">The Emperor with his Staff</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">56</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_056b">Russian nurses attend to the feeding of the soldiers</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">56</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_068">Russian soldiers performing their native dance</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">68</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_076">The Polish Legion. Note the small boy in the ranks as mascot</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">76</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_080">The Vistula (winter)</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">80 -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_x">x</span></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_092">Russian officers in an artillery observation position</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">92</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_104">A first-line trench in Poland</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">104</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_106">Russian General inspecting his gunners</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">106</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_108">Telephoning to the battery from the observation position</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">108</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_116">In the trenches near Opatov</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">116</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_118">Second-line trenches, Opatov</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">118</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_122">A second-line trench near Opatov</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">122</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_128">A Russian first-line trench near Lublin</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">128</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_129">German position near Lublin</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">129</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_130">March-past of the Gonogoriski Regiment</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">130</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_132">Men of the Gonogoriski Regiment cheering King George V</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">132</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_134">Men of the Gonogoriski Regiment</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">134</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_142">Howitzer battery in Poland</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">142</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_144">Cossacks on the Dniester. Officers’ quarters in the woods</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">144</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_150">The Polish Legion</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">150</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_164">The colours of the Siberians</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">164</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_172a">Respirator drill in the trenches</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">172</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_172b">Austrians leaving Przemysl</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">172</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_178">Siberians returning from the trenches</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">178</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_213">General Brussilov</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">213</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_222a">General Ivanov</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">222</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_222b">My car in a Galician village</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">222</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_248">G. H. Mewes</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">248</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_251">Stanley Washburn, Prince Oblensky, Count Tolstoy, Count Keller</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">251</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_254">Cossacks dancing the Tartars’ native dance</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">254</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_261">H.I.H. The Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovitch, Commander of two divisions of Cossacks</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">261</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_268">The Russian soldier at meal-time. Ten men share the soup</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">268</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_280a">Cavalry taking up position</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">280</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_280b">Russian band playing the men to the trenches</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">280</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_290">After the Russian evacuation of Lwow. The Bug Lancers retreating in good order</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">290 - <span class="pagenum" id="Page_xi">xi</span></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_302">A Russian eight-inch gun going into position during the fighting round Lublin</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">302</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_306">Russian artillery officers in an observation position during the fighting round Lublin</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">306</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_312a">Retreat from Warsaw. Burning crops</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">312</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_312b">The retreat from Warsaw. A Jewish family leaving Warsaw</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">312</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_314">Retreat from Warsaw. A Polish Jew</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">314</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_316">The evacuation of Warsaw. Copper and bells were all taken away</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">316</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_319">The retreat from Warsaw</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">319</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_320">The retreat from Warsaw. Ammunition on the road</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">320</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_322a">During the retreat from Warsaw</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">322</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_322b">Russian armoured motor-car.</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">322</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_324">The retreat from Warsaw. Wounded in a barn outside Warsaw</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">324</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_326">The retreat from Warsaw. German prisoners housed in a barn</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">326</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_328">The retreat from Warsaw. Artillery on the road</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">328</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_330">During the retreat from Warsaw. Note wounded man in foreground</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">330</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_332">The retreat from Warsaw. One of the last regiments to pass through Warsaw</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">332</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_334">Siberians leaving the last trench before Warsaw</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">334</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_339">A batch of German prisoners captured during the retreat from Warsaw</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">339</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_340">Refugees on the road to Brest-Litovsk</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">340</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_342">Roll call during the retreat from Warsaw. All that was left of them</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">342</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_344">Resting during the retreat from Warsaw</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">344</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_346a">Wounded returning to Warsaw</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">346</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><a href="#i_346b">On the banks of the River Dniester</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">346</td> - </tr> -</table> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_xii">xii</span></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_1">1</span></p> - -<p class="ph1">THE FALL OF PRZEMYSL</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_2">2</span></p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_3">3</span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I<br /> - -<span class="large">THE FALL OF PRZEMYSL</span></h2> - -<p class="author"> -<span style="padding-right: 3em">Dated:</span><br /> -<span class="smcap">Lwow, Galicia</span>,<br /> -<em>April 1, 1915</em>.</p> - -<h3>I</h3> - -<p class="drop"><span class="smcap">The</span> news of the fall of Przemysl reached -Petrograd on the morning of March 23, -and the announcement was given out by the -War Office at noon. The spring is very late -in Russia this year, and so much snow and such -intense cold have not been known so late in -March for more than a hundred years. On -the 23rd it was snowing heavily in Petrograd -and a biting wind was sweeping through the -streets. Save for an occasional street car and -foot passengers the Moika and even the Nevsky -Prospekt were at noon almost as empty as at -midnight. And then came the announcement -that the great fortress in Galicia had fallen. In -an hour the news was all over the town and in -spite of the inclement weather the streets were -thronged with eager Russians, from Prince to -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_4">4</span> -Moujik, anxiously asking each other if the news -which had been so long promised could really -be true. The fall of Przemysl it must be remembered -had been reported at least a dozen times -in Petrograd before this.</p> - -<p>There are people in as well as out of Russia, -who like to say that the man in the street over -here cares nothing for the war and knows less, -but on this particular day these people were -silent. It was no wonder. If ever a people -genuinely rejoiced over good news it was the -citizens of all classes of Russia’s capital when -it became known that Przemysl was at last in -Russian hands. By three in the afternoon, -crowds had organized themselves into bands, -and with the Russian flag waving in front, and -a portrait of the Czar carried before, dozens of -bands marched through the streets chanting -the deep-throated Russian National anthem; -one of the most impressive hymns in the world.</p> - -<p>Though the snow was still falling and a nipping -wind blowing, thousands of the crowds that now -perambulated the streets stood bareheaded in -the blast as each procession passed. Old retired -generals of seventy and more stood at rigid -attention as the portrait of their monarch and -the flag of their nation was borne past. Moujiks, -princes, men and women, the aged and the -young alike, displayed the same spirit of ardour -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_5">5</span> -and enthusiasm as each demonstration came -down the street. While it is true that there is -not in Russia what we in the West call public -opinion, yet a stranger living here during this -war comes to feel that there is growing up -a spirit that is uniting all classes. This is -the great hope for the war. It is also Russia’s -hope for the future. In another generation -it is destined to bring forth greater progress and -unity than the Empire of the Czar has ever -known.</p> - -<div id="i_004" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_004.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>Occupation of Przemysl by the Russians. Austrians leaving as prisoners. The Russians entering the town.</p> -</div> - -<p>The people of Petrograd have followed the -war much more closely than one would have -believed possible. Over here there has been -action from the day the war started, and hardly -a month when gigantic movements of some sort -or other have not been under weigh. Petrograd -has been called on again and again to furnish -new troops, and from September until to-day -there has not been a week that one could not -see new troops drilling in the streets. Russia -has had great successes and great setbacks, but -each alike strengthens the same stubborn determination -to keep pressing forward.</p> - -<p>There was great disappointment when the -Russian army withdrew a few weeks ago from -East Prussia, but it began to abate when -it became known that the German advance -was checked. The Russians, as is their habit, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_6">6</span> -had pulled themselves together, and slowly but -surely were pushing back the invader just as -they did in the dreary days following the Samsonov -disaster in the first days of the war. Then -came the news of Galicia and the greatest single -success that the war has brought to any of the -Allies, or for that matter to any of the belligerent -powers. When the details of the numbers -of the captured began to leak out, the importance -of the success was first realized, and not -without reason did the Russians begin to allude -to the fall of Przemysl as a second Metz. It -was generally believed that the garrison shut up -within the fortress did not total above 50,000 -men, and none were more surprised than the -victors, when they learned that more than -131,000 soldiers and nearly 4,000 officers had -fallen into their hands, not to mention a -number of guns of all calibres amounting -probably to above 300. These unfortunately -have been rendered useless by the Austrians -and must be charged as a heavy loss to them -rather than as any direct military asset gained -by the Russians.</p> - -<div id="i_006a" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_006a.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>Austrian prisoners leaving Przemysl.</p> -</div> - -<div id="i_006b" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_006b.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>Russian occupation of Przemysl. Austrian officers pay a last visit to -the Russian head-quarters before leaving for Lwow.</p> -</div> - -<p>Well may the Russians take pride in what -their new army has accomplished, for one must -go back to the taking of Plevna to find any such -landmark in the history of Russian siege operations. -The last great siege in Muscovite history -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_7">7</span> -was that of Port Arthur, and one cannot -but contrast the state of matters in Russia ten -years ago, and now. Port Arthur fell after a -long series of disasters to the Russian arms, and -the people all over the Empire received the -tidings without interest and with that dumb -resignation to disaster that is characteristic of -their fatalistic temperament. A spirit of hopelessness -and despondency and pessimism pervaded -every class of Russian society. Announcements -of new defeats were heard without surprise -and almost without interest. “Of course, -what do you expect?” one would hear on all -sides, “Russian troops never win.” But now -there is quite a different point of view. Even -the moujik has come to feel a pride and confidence -in his army and in its victories. Their -successes are his successes, and their defeats -are his defeats.</p> - -<p>One who takes interest in studying the -psychology of countries comes to realize that pride -of race and confidence in one’s blood is the greatest -asset that any nation can possess. Throughout -Russia, the cause in which her Armies are -engaged has come to be more nearly understood -than any war she has ever engaged in. It is -not true of course that the peasant knows as -much as does the British Tommy; nor is there -anything like the same enlightenment that prevails -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">8</span> -in the Western Armies. But in fairness -to Russia she must not be judged from a -Western standpoint, but compared with herself -ten years ago.</p> - -<p>As has been written by a dozen writers from -Russia in the last six months the new spirit -was crystallized when the war began. It has -had its ups and its downs with the varying reports -from the Front, but as each defeat has -been turned into a stepping stone for a subsequent -advance, public confidence has gradually -mounted higher and higher, until, with the fall -of Przemysl, we find Russian sentiment and -confidence in Russia at probably the highest -point that has ever been reached in the history -of the Empire. The dawn of the new day of -which we hear so much over here now, bears -every indication of being the beginning of the -much heralded new Era in this country.</p> - -<h3>II</h3> - -<p>Galicia is still under martial law, and one -cannot even enter the new Russian province -without a permit issued by the General Staff. -It is of course even more difficult for one to get -into the actual theatre of war. A wire, however, -from the Staff of the Generalissimo to the powers -that be in Petrograd, made the way to Przemysl -possible, and a few days after the fortress had -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">9</span> -fallen the writer reached Lwow. The Russian-gauged -railroad has been pushed south of the -old frontier line to the town of Krasne, famous -as the centre of the battle-line of Austrian defence -in the days when the armies of Russky -were pushing on toward Lwow.</p> - -<div id="i_008a" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_008a.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>Cossack patrol entering Przemysl.</p> -</div> - -<div id="i_008b" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_008b.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>Russian occupation of Przemysl. Governor’s bodyguard entering -Government House.</p> -</div> - -<p>It was originally intended to widen the Austrian -tracks to take the Russian rolling stock, -so that trains might proceed direct to the capital -of Galicia; but it was found that the expense -of carrying on operations which meant the widening -of every bridge and the strengthening of -every culvert and elevated way, to take the -heavier equipment, would involve time and -expense scarcely less than building a new line -complete. The result is that one still changes -carriages some distance out of Lwow, a handicap -that is trifling for passenger traffic, but -involving very real inconvenience and delays -in the handling of the vast amount of freight -and munitions that go to supply the huge -armies in the field in Galicia.</p> - -<p>Lwow itself is no longer the dismal place -that it was in the early autumn when almost -every public building was a hospital, and the -station a receiving depot for the thousands -of fresh wounded that poured in by train-loads -from the positions on the San and from -the trenches before Przemysl, which was just -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">10</span> -then undergoing its first investment. Where -stretchers and throngs of wounded formerly -filled every available foot of ground in the -huge terminus a few months ago, all is now -orderly and very much as in the days before -the war. The hotels which in October were -filled to overflowing with officers and Red -Cross nurses, are now comparatively quiet, and -the city itself, barring troops going through and -prisoners coming from Przemysl, is not far from -normal. A few hours after arriving the writer -was received by Count Brobinsky, who frankly -expressed his delight and relief at the capture -of the Galician fortress.</p> - -<p>There are of course a large number of Austrians -in Galicia, and ever since the Russian -occupation in September a pro-German-Austrian -propaganda has been kept up here. Every -reverse to the Dual Alliance has been minimized -as much as possible, and every effort was subtly -made by the German-Austrian agents of the -enemy to prevent the peasants and that portion -of the population here which sympathizes with -the Russians, from co-operating in the new -régime. They were assured that soon the Austrians -would be coming back, and fears of reprisals -when the day came have no doubt -restrained a large number of Little Russians, -Poles and others from openly supporting the -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">11</span> -efforts of the new government to restore Galicia -to its normal state. But with each month it -has become increasingly difficult for the Austrian -sympathizers to make the public believe that -the Russian occupation was only a temporary -wave that would shortly recede. Austro-German -advances in Bukowina, and the really -serious aggressive attempts through the Carpathians -no doubt helped to render conditions -unsettled. Then came the check of the -Austrian advance in Bukowina and the gradual -reclaiming by the Russians of the ground lost -at the first impetus of the enemy’s offensive. -This was followed by the failure of the relieving -column to make satisfactory headway toward -its objective at Przemysl.</p> - -<p>In spite of all these very obvious failures to -achieve any definite advantage over the Russians, -the spirits of the anti-Russian element -were kept buoyed up by the spectacle of the -great fortress in Galicia still holding out. “As -long as Przemysl stands out there is hope,” -seems to have been the general opinion of all -who wished ill to the Russians. Thus the fortress, -which at the outset might have been abandoned -with small loss of prestige to the Austrians, -gradually came to have a political as -well as military significance of the most far reaching -importance. In the general crash after the -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">12</span> -battle of the Grodek line, the loss of a town -which until then had never been heard of in -the West, outside of military circles, would have -escaped anything more than passing comment. -Not until the Russian armies had actually swept -past its trenches and masked its forts, did the -world at large know that such a place was on -the map; even then the greatest interest manifested -was in the vexed question as to how its -name was pronounced, if indeed it could be done -at all, an opinion which was held by not a few -people. This place which could have been given -up earlier in the war without any important -sacrifice was held tenaciously and became one -of the vital points of strategy in the whole campaign. -An army which turned out to be a huge -one, was isolated from the field armies of Austria -at a time when she needed every able-bodied -man that she could get; and Przemysl, which, as -we see now, was doomed from the start, was -allowed to assume an importance in the campaign -which made its fall not only a severe military -loss but a blow to the hopes of the Austrians, -both at home and in Galicia. The fall of this -fortress has gone further towards shattering -any hopes of ultimate victory that have been -entertained than anything that has occurred -since the war started.</p> - -<div id="i_012a" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_012a.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>Destroyed by the Austrians before leaving Przemysl.</p> -</div> - -<div id="i_012b" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_012b.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>Principal street in Przemysl.</p> -</div> - -<p>As Count Brobinsky, who for six months now -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">13</span> -has been straggling to readjust Galicia to the -normal, said, his task has now been enormously -simplified, and there is scarcely an element left -here that now believes there is any chance of -Austria winning back her lost province. The -Austrian agents have abandoned hope, and the -Russian sympathizers are now openly declaring -their loyalty to the new régime. There is, however, -a class of bureaucrats left here aggregating, -I am informed, nearly 40,000 in number. This -class is composed of Poles, Austrians and others -who for generations have been holding the best -offices at the disposal of the Vienna government. -These are of course, almost to a man, out of their -lucrative posts, and represent the element that -has most vigorously, if quietly, attempted to -undermine the activities of the government installed -here by Russia. But even these see in -the collapse of their great fortress the evaporation -of their chief hopes.</p> - -<p>As Galicia is still under martial law, all the -motor cars have been taken over by the military -authorities and so, even armed with passes -and permits, we found it all but impossible to -reach Przemysl. The best horses here are in -the army service, and the few skinny horses -attached to the cabs find it difficult even to -stagger from the station to the hotel, and it was -out of the question to go by carriage the 94 kilometres -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">14</span> -to Przemysl. But when we told Count -Brobinsky of our difficulties, he solved them by -promptly placing a huge military touring car -at our disposal; he further paved the way for -a pleasant trip to the scene of the Russian achievement -by giving us a personal letter of introduction -to General Atrimanov, the new Russian -commandant of the captured fortress.</p> - -<h3>III</h3> - -<p>The spring is late here as it is throughout -Russia this year, and it was snowing heavily as -our big touring car, with a soldier as chauffeur, -threaded its way in the early morning through -the narrow streets of Lwow and out into the -open country which was now almost white. -Before we have been twenty minutes on the -road we begin to pass occasional groups of dismal -wretches in the blue uniform which before -this war was wont to typify the might of the -Hapsburgs, but which now in Galicia is the -symbol of dejection and defeat. Through the -falling snow they plod in little parties of from -three to a dozen; evidently the rear guard of -the column that went through yesterday, for -they are absolutely without guards, and are no -doubt simply dragging on after their regiments.</p> - -<div id="i_014" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_014.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>Austrian and Hungarian prisoners en route to Lwow.</p> -</div> - -<p>From Lwow almost due west runs the line of -the highway to Grodek where we get our first -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">15</span> -glimpse of prisoners in bulk. Here, at the scene -of some of the fiercest fighting that the war has -produced, is a rest station for the columns that -are making the journey to Russian captivity -on foot from Przemysl to Lwow, and I know -not how far beyond. As we motor into the -town the three battalions of the 9th Hungarian -regiment of the 54th Landsturm brigade are just -straggling into the town from the west. With -a few Russians who seem to be acting as guides -and nurses rather than as guards, they file through -the streets and into a great square of a barracks. -Here they are marshalled in columns of four, -and marched past the door of the barracks where -an official counts the individual fours and -makes a note of the number that have passed -his station. Beyond in a grove the ranks -are broken, and the weary-looking men drop -down under the trees, regardless of the snow -and mud, and shift their burdens and gnaw at -the hunks of bread and other provisions furnished -them by the Russians.</p> - -<p>It is hard to realize that the haggard despondent -rabble that we see has ever been part of -an actual army in being. Most of them were -evidently clothed for a summer campaign, and -their thin and tattered uniform overcoats must -have given but scant warmth during the winter -that has passed. The line is studded with -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">16</span> -civilian overcoats, and many of the prisoners -have only a cap or a fragment of a uniform which -identifies them as ever having been soldiers at all. -The women of the village pass up and down -the line giving the weary troops bits of provision -not in the Russian menu. All the men are -wan and thin, with dreary hopelessness written -large upon their faces, and a vacant stare -of utter desolation in their hollow eyes. They -accept gladly what is given and make no comment. -They get up and sit down as directed -by their guards, apparently with no more sense -of initiative or independence of will than the -merest automatons. We pause but a few minutes, -for the roads are bad and we are anxious -to get over the muddy way as quickly as possible.</p> - -<p>The western portion of Grodek was badly -knocked up by shell fire during the battle in -September, and the barren walls of charred -buildings remain to tell the story of the Austrian -effort to stay the tide of the Russian advance -that swept them out of position after position -during the first weeks of the war. Grodek -was reported to have been utterly destroyed at -the time, but as a fact, not more than one-fifth -of the buildings were even damaged by the -artillery fire.</p> - -<div id="i_017" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_017.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>Austrian prisoners resting by the roadside during their march from Przemysl.</p> -</div> - -<p>Just east of Sadowa Wisznia, the scene of -another Austrian stand, we come upon a regiment -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">17</span> -attached to the 54th Landsturm brigade. This -is the tenth regiment, and, with the exception -of a few non-commissioned officers, is composed -entirely of Slovaks and Hungarians. They -are resting as we motor up, and for nearly a -mile they are sitting dejectedly by the side of -the road, some with heads resting wearily against -tree trunks, while dozens of others are lying in -the snow and mud apparently asleep. As nearly -as I could estimate, there is about one Russian -to a hundred prisoners. In any case one has -to look about sharply to see the guards at all. -It reminds one a bit of trying to pick a queen -bee out of a swarm of workers. Usually one -discovers the guard sitting with a group of -prisoners, talking genially, his rifle leaning against -the trunk of a tree near by.</p> - -<p>We stopped here for about half an hour while -I walked about trying to find some prisoners -who could speak German, but for the most part -that language was unknown to them. At last -I discovered a couple of non-commissioned officers, -who, when they heard that I was an American, -opened up and talked quite freely. Both took -great pride in repeating the statement that -Przemysl could never have been taken by assault, -and that it had only surrendered because of -lack of food.</p> - -<p>One of the men was from Vienna and extremely -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">18</span> -pro-German in his point of view. He -took it as a matter of course that the Austrians -were defeated everywhere, but seemed -to feel a confidence that could not be shaken -in the German troops. He knew nothing of -the situation outside of his own garrison, and -when told of Kitchener’s new British Army, -laughed sardonically. “It is a joke,” he said, -“Kitchener’s army is only on paper, and even -if they had half a million as they claim to have, -they would be of no use. The English cannot -fight at all.” When told that over two million -men had been recruited in the British Empire -he opened his eyes a bit, but after swallowing -a few times he came back, “Well even if they -have it does not matter. They can’t fight.”</p> - -<p>The other man whom I questioned was mainly -interested in how long the war was going to -last. He did not seem to feel any particular -regret at the fall of the fortress, nor to care very -much who won, as long as it would soon be over -so that he could go home again. As for the -rank and file I think it perfectly safe to suggest -that not one in a hundred has any feeling at -all except that of hopeless perpetual misery. -They have been driven into a war for which -they care little, they have been forced to endure -the hardships of a winter in the trenches with -insufficient clothing, a winter terminating with -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">19</span> -a failure of food supplies that brought them all -to the verge of starvation. The fall of the fortress -means to them three meals of some sort -a day, and treatment probably kinder than they -ever got from their own officers. They are -at least freed from the burden of war and relieved -of the constant menace of sudden death which -has been their portion since August.</p> - -<p>The road leading west from Sadowa Wisznia is -in fearful condition owing to the heavy traffic of -the Russian transport, and in places the mud -was a foot deep. The country here is flat with -occasional patches of fir and spruce timber. -It is questionable if there ever was much prosperity -in this belt; and since it has been -swept for six months by contending armies, one -cannot feel much optimism as to what the future -has in store for the unfortunate peasants whose -homes are destroyed, and whose live stock -is said to have been taken off by the Austrians -as they fell back before the Russians.</p> - -<h3>IV</h3> - -<p>One’s preconceived idea of what a modern -fortress looks like vanishes rapidly as one enters -Przemysl. In time of peace it is probable that -a layman might pass into this town without -suspecting at all that its power of resisting attack -is nearly as great as any position in all Europe. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">20</span> -Now, of course, innumerable field works, trenches, -and improvised defences at once attract the -attention; but other than these there is visible -from the main road but one fortress, which, -approached from the east is so extremely unpretentious -in appearance that it is doubtful -if one would give it more than a passing glance -if one were not on the lookout for it.</p> - -<p>Przemysl itself is an extremely old town which -I believe was for nearly 1,000 years a Russian -city. From remote days of antiquity it has -been a fortress, and following the ancient tradition, -each successive generation has kept improving -its defences until to-day it is in reality -a modern stronghold. Why the Austrians have -made this city, which in itself is of no great importance, -the site of their strongest position, is -not in the least obvious to the layman observer. -The town itself, a mixture of quaint old buildings -and comparatively modern structures, lies -on the east bank of the river San—which at -this point is about the size of the Bow river -at Calgary, in Canada—and perhaps 3 kilometres -above the point where the small stream -of the Wiar comes in from the south. The little -city is hardly visible until one is almost upon it, -so well screened is it by rolling hills that lie all -about it. Probably the prevailing impression -in the world has been that the Russian great -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">21</span> -guns have been dropping shells into the heart -of the town; many people even in Lwow believe -it to be in a half-ruined condition. As a -matter of fact the nearest of the first line of -forts is about 10 kilometres from the town itself, -so that in the whole siege not a shell from -the Russian batteries has fallen in the town -itself. Probably none has actually fallen within -5 kilometres of the city. There was therefore -no danger of the civilian population suffering -anything from the bombardment while the -outer line of forts held as they did from the -beginning.</p> - -<div id="i_020" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_020.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>Austrian prisoners leaving Przemysl.</p> -</div> - -<p>The only forts or works which we were given -the opportunity of seeing, were those visible -from the road, the authorities informing us that -they had reason to believe that many of the -trenches and positions were mined, and that -no one would be permitted in them until they -had been examined by the engineers of the army -and pronounced safe. If the works seen from -the road are typical of the defences, and I believe -they are, one can quite well realize the -impregnable nature of the whole position. The -road from Lwow comes over the crest of a -hill and stretches like a broad ribbon for perhaps -5 kilometres over an open plain, on the -western edge of which a slight rise of ground -gives the elevation necessary for the first Austrian -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">22</span> -line. To the north of the road is a fort, -with the glacis so beautifully sodded that it -is hardly noticeable as one approaches, though -the back is dug out and galleried for heavy guns. -Before this is a ditch with six rows of sunken -barbed wire entanglements, and a hundred yards -from this is another series of entanglements -twelve rows deep, and so criss-crossed with barbed -wire that it would take a man hours to cut his -way through with no other opposition.</p> - -<p>To the right of the road runs a beautifully -constructed line of modern trenches. These -are covered in and sodded and buried in earth -deep enough to keep out anything less than a -6-inch field howitzer shell unless it came at a -very abrupt angle. To shrapnel or any field -gun high explosive shell, I should think it would -have proved invulnerable. The trench itself -lies on a slight crest with enough elevation to -give loop holes command of the terrain before. -The field of fire visible from these trenches is at -least 4 kilometres of country, and so perfectly -cleared of shelter of all sorts that it would be -difficult for a rabbit to cross it unseen. The -ditch and two series of wire entanglements extend -in front of the entire position. This line -is, I believe, typical of the whole outer line of -fortifications, which is composed of a number of -forts all of which are tied together with the line -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">23</span> -of trenches. The outer line is above 40 kilometres -in circumference, from which it may be -judged to what great expense Austria has been -put in fortifying this city. I was not able to -get any accurate information as to the number -of guns which the Austrians have on their various -positions, but the opinion of a conservative -officer was, that, excluding machine guns, there -were at least 300 and possibly a greater number. -The inventory has not yet been completed by -the Russians. These are said to range in calibre -from the field piece up to heavy guns of -30 centimetres. I was informed that there -were a few 36 and one or two of the famous 42 -centimetres here when the war started, but -that the Germans had borrowed them for their -operations in the West. In any case it is hard -to see how the big guns, even of the 30 centimetres, -would be of any great value to a defence -firing out over a crest of hills in the distant landscape -behind which, in an irregular line of trenches, -an enemy lay.</p> - -<p>After a few experiments against the works, -the Russians seem to have reached the conclusion -that it would not be worth while even to -attempt carrying the trenches by assault. Indeed, -in the opinion of the writer neither the -Russians nor any other troops ever could have -taken them with the bayonet; the only method -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">24</span> -possible would have been the slow and patient -methods of sapping and mining which was used -by the Japanese at Port Arthur. But methods -so costly, both in time and lives, would seem to -have been hardly justified here because, as the -Russians well knew, it was merely a question of -time before the encircled garrison would eat itself -up, and the whole position would then fall -into their hands without the cost of a single -life.</p> - -<p>The strategic value of Przemysl itself was -in no way acutely delaying the Russian campaigns -elsewhere, and they could afford to let -the Austrian General who shut himself and a -huge army up in Przemysl, play their own game -for them, which is exactly what happened. There -was no such situation here as at Port Arthur, -where the menace of a fleet in being locked up -in the harbour necessitated the capture of the Far -Eastern stronghold before the Russian second fleet -could appear on the scene and join forces with -it. Nor was there even any such important factor -as that which confronted the Germans at Liège. -To the amateur it seems then that the Austrians, -with eyes open, isolated a force which at the start -must have numbered nearly four army corps, -in a position upon which their programme was not -dependent, and under conditions which made -its eventual capture a matter of absolute certainty -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">25</span> -providing only that the siege was not relieved -from without by their own armies from -the South.</p> - -<p>The lesson of Przemysl may be a very instructive -one in future wars. The friends of General -Sukomlinoff, the Russian Minister of War, are -claiming with some reason that what has happened -here is a vindication of the Minister’s -theory, that fortresses in positions which -are not of absolute necessity to the military -situation should never be built at all, or -should be abandoned at the inception of war -rather than defended unwisely and at great -cost. It is claimed that if the Warsaw forts -had not been scrapped some years ago, the -Russian Army to-day would be standing a siege, -or at least a partial siege, within the city, rather -than fighting on a line of battle 40 kilometres -to the west of it. Port Arthur is perhaps an -excellent example of the menace of a fortified -position of great strength. So much had been -done to make that citadel impregnable that -the Russians never dreamed of giving it up. -The result was that a position, which was doomed -to succumb eventually, was made the centre of -all the Russian strategy. For months the army -in the North was forced to make attempt after -attempt to relieve the position, with the results -that they lost probably four times the number -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">26</span> -of the garrison in futile efforts to relieve it. A -fortress which has cost large sums of money -must be defended at any cost to justify the -country that has incurred the expense. Forces -which can probably be ill spared from field operations -are locked up for the purpose of protecting -expensive works which, as in the case of -Przemysl, yield them little or nothing but the -ultimate collapse of their defence, and the consequent -demoralization of the field armies which -have come to attach an importance to the -fortress which, from a strategic point of view, -it probably never possessed.</p> - -<h3>V</h3> - -<p>The last few kilometres of the road into Przemysl -was alive with Russian transport plodding -into the town, but the way was singularly free -from troops of any sort. With the exception -of a few Cossack patrols and an occasional officer -or orderly ploughing through the mud, there -was nothing to indicate that a large Russian -army was in the vicinity. It is possible that it has -already been moved elsewhere; in any case -we saw nothing of it.</p> - -<p>Between the outer line of forts and the Wiar -river are a number of improvised field works, -all of which looked as though they could stand -a good bit of taking, but of course they were -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">27</span> -not as elaborate as the first line. The railroad -crosses the little Wiar on a steel bridge, but the -bridge now lies a tangle of steel girders in the -river. It is quite obvious that the Austrian -commander destroyed his bridges west of the -town because they afforded direct communications -with the lines beyond; but the bridge -over the Wiar has no military value whatsoever, -the others being gone, save to give convenient -<em>all rail</em> access to the heart of Przemysl itself. -The town was given up the next day and, as -the natural consequence of the Austrian commander’s -conception of his duty, all food supplies -had to be removed from the railway trucks -at the bridge, loaded into wagons, and make -the rest of the journey into the town in that -way, resulting in an absolutely unnecessary delay -in relieving the wants of the half-famished garrison -within. The only bright spot that this -action presents to the unprejudiced observer -is that it necessitated the dainty, carefully-shod -Austrian officers walking three kilometres through -the mud before they could embark on the trains -to take them to the points of detention for prisoners -in Russia. There cannot be the slightest -doubt that the rank and file of the garrison -were actually on the verge of starvation, and -that the civilian population were not far from -the same fate. As near as one can learn the -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">28</span> -latter consisted of about 40,000 persons. I am -told that the prisoners numbered 131,000 men -and some 3,600 officers, and that perhaps 20,000 -have died during the siege from wounds and -disease. This, then, makes a population at -the beginning of nearly 200,000 in a fortification -which, as experts say, could have easily -been held by 50,000 troops. One officer even -went so far as to declare that in view of the wonderful -defensive capacity of the position 30,000 -might have made a desperate stand. The fortress -was thus easily three times over garrisoned. -In other words there were perhaps at the start -150,000 mouths to feed in the army alone, when -50,000 men would have been able to hold the -position. This alone made the approach of -starvation sure and swift. The fact that in this -number of men there were 3,600 officers, nine -of the rank of General, indicates pretty clearly -the extent to which the garrison was over -officered. Kusmanek, the commander of the -fortress, is said to have had seventy-five officers -on his personal staff alone.</p> - -<p>As far as one can learn there was no particular -pinch in the town until everything was -nearly gone, and then conditions became suddenly -acute. It is improbable that economy -was enforced in the early dispensing of food -supplies, and the husbanding of such resources -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">29</span> -as were at hand. When the crisis came, it fell -first upon the unfortunate soldiers, with whom -their officers seem to have little in common. -Transport horses were killed first, and then the -cavalry mounts went to the slaughter house -to provide for the garrison. The civilians next -felt the pinch of hunger, and every live thing -that could nourish the human body was eaten. -Cats I am told were selling at ten kr. each and -fair-sized dogs at twenty-five kr. The extraordinary -part of the story is that according -to evidence collected from many sources the -officers never even changed their standards of -living. While the troops were literally starving -in the trenches, the dilettantes from Vienna, -who were in command, were taking life easily -in the Café Sieber and the Café Elite. Three -meals a day, fresh meat, wines, cigarettes and -fine cigars were served to them up to the last.</p> - -<p>One of the haggard starved-looking servants -in the hotel where I was quartered told me that -several of the staff officers lived at the hotel. -“They,” he said, “had everything as usual. Fresh -meat and all the luxuries were at their disposal -until the last. Yet their soldier servant used -to come to me, and one day when I gave him half -of a bit of bread I was eating, his hands trembled -as he reached to take it from me.” My informant -paused and then concluded sardonically, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">30</span> -“No, the officers did not suffer. Not they. It -was cafés, billiards, dinners and an easy life for -them to the end. But the rest of us. Ah, yes, -we have suffered. Had the siege lasted another -week we should all have been black in the face -for want of food.”</p> - -<p>An Austrian sister who had been working in -the hospital confirmed the story. “Is it true -that people were starving here?” I asked her. -“Indeed it is true,” she told me, “the soldiers -had almost nothing and the civilians were little -better off. As for us in the hospitals—well, -we really suffered for want of food.” “But -how about the officers?” I asked. She looked -at me sharply out of the corner of her eyes, for -she evidently did not care to criticize her own -people, but she seemed to recall something and -her face suddenly hardened as she snapped out: -“The officers starve? Well, hardly. They lived -like dukes always.” More she would not say, -but the evidence of these two was amply confirmed -by the sight of the sleek well-groomed -specimens of the “dukes” that promenade the -streets. While the soldiers were in a desperate -plight for meat, the officers seemed to have retained -their own thoroughbred riding horses -until the last day. I suppose that riding -was a necessity to them to keep in good -health. The day before the surrender they -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">31</span> -gave these up, and 2,000 beautiful horses were -killed, not for meat for the starving soldiers be -it noted, but that they might not fall into the -hands of the Russians. Perhaps I can best -illustrate what happened by quoting the words -of a Russian officer who was among the first -to enter the town. “Everywhere,” he told -me, “one saw the bodies of freshly-killed saddle -horses, some of them animals that must have -been worth many thousand roubles. Around -the bodies were groups of Hungarian soldiers -tearing at them with knives; with hands and -faces dripping with blood, they were gorging -themselves on the raw meat. I have never seen -in all my experience of war a more horrible and -pitiable spectacle than these soldiers, half -crazed with hunger, tearing the carcasses like -famished wolves.” My friend paused and a -shadow crossed his kindly face. “Yes,” he -said, “it was horrible. Even my Cossack orderly -wept—and he—well, he has seen much of war -and is not over delicate.”</p> - -<p>I can quote the statement of the Countess -Elizabeth Schouvalov, of whom more anon, as -further corroborative evidence of conditions existing -in the town. The Countess, who is in charge -of a distribution station to relieve the wants -of the civil population, said to me: “It is true -that the people were starving. Common soldiers -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">32</span> -occasionally fell down in the street from sheer -weakness for want of food. Some lay like the -dead and would not move. But their officers!” -A frown passed over her handsome features. -“Ah!” she said, “they are not like the Russians. -Our officers share the hardships of the -men. You have seen it yourself,” with a glance -at me, “you know that one finds them in the -trenches, everywhere in uniforms as dirty as -their soldiers, and living on almost the same -rations. A Russian would never live in ease -while his men starved. I am proud of my people. -But these officers here—they care nothing -for their men. You have seen them in the -streets. Do they look as though they had suffered?” -and she laughed bitterly.</p> - -<p>I had not been above a few hours in Przemysl -before it was quite clear to me, at least, that -Przemysl surrendered for lack of food, and that -while the officers were living luxuriously, their -men were literally starving. That they let -them starve while they kept their own pet -saddle horses seems pretty well established from -the evidence obtainable. One wonders what -public opinion would say of officers in England, -France or America who in a crisis proved -capable of such conduct?</p> - -<p>In my comments on the Austrian officers I -must of course limit my observations to the -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">33</span> -types one sees, and hears about, in Przemysl. -Out of 3,600 officers there must have been men -of whom Austria can be proud, men who did -share their men’s privations, and these, of course, -are excepted from the general observations.</p> - -<div id="i_033" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_033.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>Russian Governor of Przemysl.</p> -</div> - -<h3>VI</h3> - -<p>Immediately on reaching the town we sought -out the head-quarters of the new Russian Commandant -of the fortress. Over the door of -the building, in large gold letters, were words -indicating that the place had formerly been -the head-quarters of the 10th Austrian Army -Corps. At the entrance two stolid Russian -sentries eyed gloomily the constant line of dapper -Austrian officers that passed in and out, and -who were, as we subsequently learned, assisting -the Russians in their task of taking over -the city. General Artimonov, the new governor, -received us at once in the room that had -been vacated only a few days before by his -Austrian predecessor General Kusmanek. On -the wall hung a great picture of the Austrian -Emperor. The General placed an officer, Captain -Stubatitch, at our disposal, and with him -our way was made comparatively easy. From -him and other officers whom we met, we gathered -that the Russians were utterly taken by surprise -at the sudden fall of the fortress, and dumbfounded -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">34</span> -at the strength of the garrison, which -none believed would exceed the numbers of -the Russians investing them; the general idea -being that there were not over 50,000 soldiers -at the disposal of the Austrian commander.</p> - -<p>Three days before the fall a sortie was made -by some 30,000 Hungarian troops. Why out -of 130,000 men only 30,000 were allotted to this -task in such a crisis does not appear. Neither -has any one been able to explain why, when they -did start on their ill-fated excursion, they made -the attempt in the direction of Lwow rather -than to the south, in which direction, not so -very far away, the armies of Austria were -struggling to reach them. Another remarkable -feature of the last sorties was, that the troops -went to the attack in their heavy marching kit. -Probably not even the Austrians themselves -felt any surprise that such a half-hearted and -badly organized undertaking failed with a loss -of 3,500 in casualties and as many more taken -prisoners. One does not know how these matters -are regarded in Austria, but to the laymen -it would seem that some one should have a lot -of explaining to do as to the last days of this -siege. Officers who have been over the ground -state that in view of the vast numbers of the -garrison, and the fact that they were well supplied -with ammunition, there would have been -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">35</span> -great chance of an important portion of the -beleaguered breaking through and getting clean -away to the south; but no attempt of this nature -seems to have been made.</p> - -<div id="i_035" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_035.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>Russian occupation of Przemysl. Head-quarters of Staff.</p> -</div> - -<p>The night before the surrender, the Austrians -began destroying their military assets, and for -two hours the town was shaken with the heavy -explosions of bridges and war material of all -sorts. Every window facing the San river was -broken by the overcharge of the explosives that -destroyed the bridges. Simultaneously the work -of destroying the artillery was going on in all -the forts with such efficiency, that it is doubtful -if the Russians will get a single piece -that can be used again. The soldiers even destroyed -the butts of their muskets, and the -authorities, who were evidently keen on this -part of the work, arranged for tons of munitions -to be dumped into the river. Others were assigned -to kill the saddle-horses.</p> - -<p>By daylight the task seems to have been completed -and negotiations for surrender were opened -by the Austrians. Our guide, Captain Stubatitch, -was the first Russian to enter the town as a -negotiator, and through him the meeting of -ranking officers was arranged—a meeting that -resulted in the unconditional surrender of the -fortress. The original terms agreed on between -Kusmanek and General Silivanov, the commander -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">36</span> -of the Russian forces, did not permit the Austrian -officers to carry their side arms; but a -telegram from the Grand Duke spared them -the humiliation of giving up their swords, a -delicate courtesy, which it seems to the writer -was quite wasted on the supercilious Austrian -officers. In the first place there has been no -formal entrance of Russian troops, Silivanov -himself not yet having inspected his prize. The -first Russians to enter came in six military touring -cars absolutely without any escort, and went -quietly and unostentatiously to the head-quarters -of the Austrian commander where the affairs -of the town were transferred with as little friction -as the changing of the administration of -one defeated political party into the hands of -its successor. Following the officials, small driblets -of troops came in to take over sentry and -other military duties, and then came the long -lines of Russian transport bringing in supplies -for the half-famished garrison. All told, probably -there have not been above a few thousand -Russian soldiers in Przemysl since its capitulation, -and these were greeted warmly by both -prisoners and civilians. There has been no -friction whatever and everybody seems well -satisfied with the end of the siege. The greatest -task at first was the relief of the population, -both soldiers and civilians. Countess Schouvalov, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">37</span> -whom I have mentioned before, came -the second day and immediately began feeding -the population from the depôt where she -organized a kitchen and service of distribution -which alone takes care of 3,000 people -a day. The Army authorities arranged for the -care of the soldiers and much of the civil population -as well, and in three days the situation -was well in hand and practically all the suffering -eliminated.</p> - -<div id="i_037" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_037.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>Feeding Austrian prisoners en route to Lwow.</p> -</div> - -<p>I have talked with many people in Przemysl, -and civilians and prisoners alike speak of the -great kindness of the Russians from the ranking -officers down to the privates, all of whom -have shown every desire to ameliorate the -distress. The difficulty of feeding so vast a -throng necessitated the immediate evacuation -of the prisoners, and an evacuation office was -at once organized. Batches of prisoners started -toward Lwow at the rate of about ten thousand -a day, which is about all the stations along -the route can handle conveniently with supplies. -The officers are sent out in small blocks by rail -once a day, and are, I believe for the most part -taken directly to Kiev, where they will remain -until the end of the war.</p> - -<p>General Kusmanek himself departed the first -day in a motor car to the head-quarters of -Silivanov and thence with the bulk of his staff -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">38</span> -to Kiev. Those who have seen him describe -him as a youngish man looking not over -forty, but in reality fifty-four. A man who -saw him the day of the surrender told me that -he had accepted the situation very casually, -and had seemed neither depressed nor mortified -at the turn events had taken. The ranking -officer left in Przemysl is General Hubert, formerly -Chief of Staff, who is staying on to facilitate -the transfer of administrations; the head-quarters -is filled with a mixture of officers and orderlies -of both armies working together in apparent -harmony.</p> - -<p>The fall of Przemysl strikes one as being the -rarest thing possible in war—namely a defeat, -which seems to please all parties interested. The -Russians rejoice in a fortress captured, the -Austrians at a chance to eat and rest, and -the civilians, long since sick of the quarrel, at -their city once more being restored to the -normal. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">39</span></p> - -<div id="i_038" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_038.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>General Hubert, Chief of Austrian Staff in Przemysl.</p> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">40</span></p> - -<p class="ph1" id="WARSAW_IN_APRIL_1915">WARSAW IN APRIL, 1915</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">41</span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II<br /> - -<span class="large">WARSAW IN APRIL, 1915</span></h2> - -<p class="author"> -<span style="padding-right: 3em">Dated:</span><br /> -<span class="smcap">Warsaw, Poland</span>,<br /> -<em>May 1, 1915</em>.<br /> -</p> - -<p class="drop"><span class="smcap">With</span> the sunshine and balmy weather of -the beautiful Polish spring, there has -come to Warsaw an optimism and hopefulness -that is deeper rooted and certainly more widely -spread than the feeling of relief that swept through -the city in October last when the Germans, after -their futile effort to take it, began their retreat -to their own frontier. On that occasion the -population had barely time to get its breath, -and to begin to express some optimism as to the -war, when the news came that the Germans -were advancing for a second time on the Polish -capital.</p> - -<p>Warsaw, as I have seen it in nearly a dozen -visits here since the war began, is a little -panicky in disposition, perhaps with reason; and -there have been such a continuous ebb and -flow of rumours good and bad, that for months -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">42</span> -no one knew what to expect. All through -December and January one heard every few -days that the Germans would take the town -almost any time, only to be told the next day -that all chances of Teuton success were forever -gone. Tales of German raids, aeroplanes, Zeppelins -on the way to destroy the city were circulated -so persistently, that perhaps it was not strange -that genuine optimism found the soil of local -public opinion a difficult one in which to take -root. The end of the first week of February left -the public here greatly encouraged, for had not -the stupendous German attack failed on the -Bzura-Rawka line?</p> - -<p>But following close on its heels came the news -of the movement in East Prussia and Russian -retirements, and once more confidence fled. Later -still the enemy’s advance on Przasnys and the -threat to the Petrograd-Warsaw line made -conditions even worse. This was the low-water -mark. When the terrific attacks began -to weaken and at last the columns of the Kaiser -began to give place, conviction that the worst -was over for Warsaw began to be felt generally, -until to-day, May 1, I find a buoyancy and -hopefulness here that I have not seen in any -part of Russia since the war started.</p> - -<p>The reasoning of the people here is something -like this. In the attacks of January and February -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">43</span> -the Germans were putting into the field the -best men and the most of them that they could -lay their hands on, and still not weakening their -position in the West. The onslaught on the -Bzura-Rawka line is believed to have been one of -the fiercest efforts that the Germans up to that -date had made on any Front. Six corps and, as -it is said, 600 guns were concentrated on a short -front and almost without interruption they -attacked for six days. The net result was nothing -save a few unimportant dents in the Russian line, -and the German loss is placed at 100,000 men. -The Russians certainly did not lose half that -number, and some well-informed people who -have been on this Front for months think it may -have been little more than a third.</p> - -<p>The East Prussian attack and its corollary movement -against Przasnys raged with the same fury. -For nearly a month Poland was taking an account -of stock. Now it has become the opinion of practically -every one, even down to the common soldiers, -that the whole German movement has proved -an utter failure and at a cost to the enemy of -not under 200,000, a figure from two to three -times as great as was the decrease of the Russian -forces. Even the East Prussian retirement which -was so heralded abroad by the Germans has -been gradually shrinking, until now it is said -that the total loss to the Russians was only -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">44</span> -25,000 to 30,000 against the 100,000 which the -Germans claimed. “How is it possible,” people -say here, “for the Germans to accomplish something -in May that they could not do in -February?” Certainly they can never be materially -stronger than they were when the first -attack on the Bzura line was launched in the -end of January, and the chances are that they -are greatly weaker.</p> - -<p>The Russians, on the other hand, are stronger -now by a very great deal than they were on -February 1st, and are getting stronger and -stronger with every day that the war lasts. It -is probably safe to say that there are 25 per -cent. more troops on this Front to-day than there -were when the Russians threw back the Germans -two months ago, and the feeling that Warsaw -will never be taken has become a conviction -among the Poles. The rumour-mongers, and -there are hundreds here who wish evil to the -Russians, find it more and more difficult to -start scares; and even reports of Zeppelins and -air raids create little comment. So common have -bombs become that the appearance of aircraft -above the city creates no curiosity and very little -interest. I have been especially impressed with -the determination with which the Poles are -planning to combat the German influence in the -future. Though Poland has suffered hideously -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">45</span> -through this war, there is small cry here -for peace at any price, and the opinion voiced -a few days ago by one of the leading papers -seems to be that of all the practical and most -influential men of the community. This view -was that the war must be fought out to a -decisive issue, and though Poland must suffer -longer thereby, yet anything short of complete -success would be intolerable. While the Poles -are still thinking a great deal about their political -future, they are perhaps more keenly alive as -to their industrial and economic future. As one -well-informed individual expressed it, “With -economic and industrial prosperity we may -later get all we want politically. But without -them mere political gains will profit us little.”</p> - -<div id="i_044" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_044.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>A Russian officer inspecting eight-inch gun.</p> -</div> - -<p>What the Poles want most perhaps in the -final peace is a boundary line that will give -Russia the mouth of the Vistula at Danzig. -With an absolute freedom of trade with England, -America and the outside world, Poland will have -a prosperity which will go a very long way -toward helping them to recuperate from the -terrible blow that their nation has received in -the war. That this is serious no one can doubt. -Conditions within that portion of Poland occupied -by the enemy are said to be deplorable -beyond measure. It is difficult to know here -exactly what the truth is, but it is probable that -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">46</span> -the suffering of the unfortunate peasants, who -are for the most part stripped of their stock and -in many instances without homes, is very severe. -With the war lasting all summer and no chance -for a crop, their plight by autumn will be serious. -What is being done about putting in a crop for -the coming year is uncertain, but it is said -that there is practically no seed for sowing, -and that the harvest this year (where there is -no fighting) will be very small. In the actual -zone of operations there will probably be none -at all.</p> - -<p>Reports are coming from a dozen different -quarters of the condition of the Germans. A -story from a source which in many months I -have found always trustworthy indicates that -the soldiers are surrendering to the Russians -in small batches whenever a favourable opportunity -offers.</p> - -<p>The reported complaint is that their rations -are increasingly short and that there is growing -discouragement. There are dozens of similar -stories circulated every day. One does not -perhaps accept them at par, but the great -significance is that they are circulating here now -for practically the first time. When I was last -in Warsaw I questioned many prisoners but -never found one who would criticize his own -fare. This condition seems to have changed -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">47</span> -materially in the past ten weeks. No one however -must dream of underestimating the stamina -of the enemy on this Front; for however one’s -sympathy may go, they are a brave and stubborn -foe, and months may elapse, even after they begin -to weaken in <em>moral</em>, before the task of beating -them will be an easy one. Their lines on this -Front are reported to be extremely strong, and -I am told by an observer that they are employing -a new type of barbed wire which is extremely -difficult to cut, and presents increased difficulty in -breaking through.</p> - -<p>The condition of the Russians is infinitely -better than at any time since the war started. -Their 1915 levies, which are just coming into the -field now in great blocks, are about the finest -raw fighting material that one can find in Europe. -Great, strapping, healthy, good-natured lads who -look as though they never had a day’s sickness in -their life. I think I do not exaggerate when I say -that I have seen nearly 100,000 of these new levies -and I have yet to see a battalion that did not -exhale high spirits and enthusiasm. They come -swinging through Warsaw, laughing and singing -with a confidence and optimism which it -is hard to believe possible when one considers -that we are in the 9th month of the war. Surely -if the Germans, who are straining every effort -now to raise new troops, could see these men -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">48</span> -that Russia is pouring into the field they would -have a genuine qualm as to the future. And -these are but a drop in the bucket to what -is available in great Russia that lies behind. -Over here there will never be any lack of men, -and the Czar can keep putting troops just like -this into the field for as many more years as the -war may last. After nearly a year on this Front -of the war, one just begins to appreciate the -enormous human resources which Russia has at -her command in this great conflict.</p> - -<p>During the winter there was a pretty widespread -apprehension of conditions which might -result among the soldiers when the spring and -warm weather came. As far as one can learn, the -authorities have made a great effort to improve -sanitary conditions at the Front, and there is -very little sickness in the army at present. Those -who are in a position to know, seem to feel confident -that such steps as are necessary to maintain -the health of the men at a high standard during -the summer have been taken. It is certain -that there has been a pretty general clean up, and -that there is less disease now, even with the -warmer weather, than there was in February.</p> - -<p>In the meantime, the Spring has come and the -roads are rapidly drying up. The occasional -rumours of the Germans reaching Warsaw are -becoming more and more rare, and the gossip -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">49</span> -of the town now is as to what date will be selected -for the Russian advance.</p> - -<div id="i_048" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_048.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>Russian bath train.</p> -</div> - -<p>The life of the city is absolutely normal, and -I am told that the shopkeepers are doing a -bigger business than ever before. The restaurants -are preparing for their out-of-door cafés, -and the streets are bright with the uniforms of -the Russian soldiery. A German officer who -came through here the other day (as a prisoner) -could not believe his eyes. “Why,” he is reported -to have said to his Russian captor, “we -supposed Warsaw was abandoned by everyone -who could get away. But the town seems as -usual.” And the officer was right. The casual -observer finds it hard to realize that there is a -line of battle only 30 miles away. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">50</span> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">51</span></p> - -<p class="ph1">AN AMERICAN DOCTOR IN THE -RUSSIAN ARMY</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">52</span></p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">53</span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III<br /> - -<span class="large">AN AMERICAN DOCTOR IN THE -RUSSIAN ARMY</span></h2> - -<p class="author"> -<span style="padding-right: 3em">Dated:</span><br /> -<span class="smcap">Warsaw, Poland</span>,<br /> -<em>May 3, 1915</em>.<br /> -</p> - -<p class="drop"><span class="smcap">It</span> is a far cry from the city of Seattle in the -State of Washington, U.S.A., to the little -village of Sejny in the Polish government of -Suwalki, but this is the jump that one must make -to follow the career of Dr. Eugene Hurd, the -only American surgeon attached to the Russian -Red Cross working in the field in this war. Inasmuch -as the story of the Doctor is a good -one in itself, and as from him one learns not -a little about the Field Hospital service of the -Russians, it seems quite worth while to devote -a chapter to this very interesting and useful -individual.</p> - -<p>Up to August last Dr. Hurd was a practising -surgeon in Seattle, a member of the State Legislature -and spoken of as coming Mayor of the -town. When he strolled casually into my room -at Warsaw in the uniform of a Russian Colonel, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">54</span> -who spoke not a word of any language except -English, I was naturally somewhat surprised. -“How on earth,” I asked him, “do you happen -to be in the Russian Army?” Unbuckling his -sword and sprawling his six feet three of brawn -and sinew in an armchair he began his story.</p> - -<p>“Well, it was this way. I’ve never had -much time to follow politics in Europe, as -my time’s been pretty much occupied cutting -off legs and arms and such, out on the -Pacific Coast. But my people have always -been regular Americans, and some of us have -been in every war the U.S.A. ever pulled off. -My great-grandfather fought in the revolution; -my grandfather in the Mexican war, and my -father in the Civil and Spanish-American -wars. Well, I was raised in an army post, and -ever since I was a kid I’ve heard my father -talk about how Russia stuck with us during -the Civil war. When things looked blue and -bad for the North she sent her old fleet over, -and let it set right there in New York Harbour -until required, if needed. During the war in -Manchuria we were all for Russia on just this -account, and when she got licked Dad and I both -felt bad. All right. Well one day out in Seattle -I read in the paper that Germany had declared -war on Russia. I remembered that business, -back in the ‘60’s,’ and what the Russians did -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">55</span> -for us, and I just said to myself, ‘Well, I’m for -Russia anyhow,’ and I sat down that very day -and wrote to the head of the medical department -at Petrograd, and just told them straight that -we had always been for Russia ever since that -business of her fleet, and that if I could serve -her in this war I’d come over even if I had to -throw up my own practice, which by the way is -a pretty good one.</p> - -<p>“Well, a couple of months went by and I had -forgotten all about it when one day the Russian -Consul blew into my office with a cable from -Petrograd, a bunch of money in one hand and a -ticket over the Siberian in the other. So I just -locked up my office and came right over. In -Petrograd they ran me around in an auto. for -two days, and then shipped me down to Grodno, -where I got a Colonel’s uniform and went right -out to the ‘Front’ in charge of a Field Hospital, -where I’ve been now for three solid months, -and you’re the first American I’ve seen and you -certainly look good to me,” and the Doctor smiled -genially.</p> - -<p>I have got more information about the -Russian wounded from Hurd than any man -I have met since I came to Russia, and though -he does not speak the language he sees everything. -He was at once placed in charge of an outfit of -sixty-one men and five wagons which formed a Field -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">56</span> -Hospital. “I have my bunch well organized,” -the doctor said. “You see I handled it -this way. I divided all my outfit, medicine -chest, instruments, etc., so that they went into -the five wagons. Each wagon was painted -a certain colour and every box that went into -that wagon had a band of the same colour around -it and a number. I had a man for each box -and each knew exactly what to do. I can halt -on the march and my men are so well trained -now that I can commence operating in ten -minutes after we make a stop. I can quit work -and be packed up and on the march again in -twenty. I like these fellows over here fine, and -when I once get them properly broken in, they -work splendidly.” [The Field Hospital to which -he was attached was up in the rear of the Russian -lines all during the recent fighting in East -Prussia.] “I never worked so hard in my life,” -he continued. “One day I had 375 men come -to my table between sunset and morning and -I was working steadily until the next night, -making twenty-three hours without intermission. -It was a tough job because every little while we -had to pull up stakes and move off to the rear -with our wounded. That made it hard for us -and difficult to do real good work.”</p> - -<div id="i_056a" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_056a.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>The Emperor with his Staff.</p> -</div> - -<div id="i_056b" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_056b.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>Russian nurses attend to the feeding of the soldiers.</p> -</div> - -<p>The work and experience with the Russian -wounded have given this American doctor a -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">57</span> -remarkable insight into the character of the -peasant soldier. “These moujik chaps,” he -assured me, “never make a complaint. I -never saw anything like it. Sometimes they -groan a little when you’re digging for a bullet, -but once off the table and in the straw (we -are without beds as we move too fast for -that) a whole barnful will be as quiet as though -the place was empty; one German, on the other -hand, will holler his head off and keep the whole -place awake. The Russians never complain, -and everything you do for them they appreciate -remarkably. I do a lot of doctoring for the -villagers, and every day there’s a line a block -long waiting to get some ‘American’ dope, and -they’re so grateful it makes you feel ashamed. -Everybody wants to kiss your hands. I tried -putting my hands behind me, but those that were -behind were just as bad as those in front. Now -I’ve given up and just let them kiss.”</p> - -<p>The vitality of the Russian soldier is amazing -according to the evidence of this observer. -With the exception of wounds in the -heart, spine or big arteries there is nothing -that must certainly prove fatal. Many head -wounds that seem incredibly dangerous recover. -“I had one case,” he told me, “which I never -would have believed. The soldier walked into -my hospital with a bullet through his head. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">58</span> -It had come out just above his left ear and I -had to dissect away part of the brain that was -lying on the ear, Well, that fellow talked all -through the dressing and walked out of the -hospital. I sent him to the rear and I have -no doubt that he recovered absolutely.”</p> - -<p>In the hundreds of cases operated on not a single -death occurred on the operating table and not -one lung wound proved fatal. Many of the -abdominal wounds of the worst type make ultimate -recoveries, and it was the opinion of the -surgeon that not above five to ten per cent. of -the patients who reached the first dressing -stations died later from the effects of their -wounds. That the war was very popular among -the common soldiers was the conclusion that -my friend had reached. “The old men with -families don’t care much for it,” he added, “but -that is because they are always worrying about -their families at home, but the young fellows -are keen for it, anxious to get to the ‘Front’ -when they first come out, and eager to get back -to it even after they have been wounded. Some -of them as a matter of fact go back several times -after being in the hospital.”</p> - -<p>In discussing the comparative merits of -the Germans and Russians, it was his opinion -that though the Germans were better rifle shots, -they could not compare with the Russians -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">59</span> -when it came to the bayonet. “When these -moujiks,” said the doctor, “climb out of their -trenches and begin to sing their national songs, -they just go crazy and they aren’t scared of -anything; and believe me, when the Germans -see them coming across the fields bellowing -these songs of theirs, they just don’t wait one -minute, but dig right out across the landscape -as fast as they can tear. I don’t think there’s -a soldier in the world that has anything on the -Russian private for bravery. They are a stubborn -lot too, and will sit in trenches in all weathers -and be just as cheerful under one condition as -another. One big advantage over here, as I -regard it, is the good relations between the soldiers -and the officers.”</p> - -<p>One extremely significant statement as to the -German losses in the East Prussian movement was -made by this American surgeon. The church and -convent where his hospital is located were previously -used for the same purposes by the Germans. -According to the statement of the priest -who was there during their occupation, 10,500 -German wounded were handled in that one -village in a period of six weeks and one day. -From this number of wounded in one village -may be estimated what the loss to the enemy -must have been during the entire campaign on -the East Prussian Front. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">60</span> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">61</span></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">62</span></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">63</span></p> -<p class="ph1">GENERAL RUSSKY’S SUCCESSOR</p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV<br /> - -<span class="large">GENERAL RUSSKY’S SUCCESSOR</span></h2> - -<p class="author"> -<span style="padding-right: 3em">Dated:</span><br /> -<span class="smcap">Warsaw, Russia</span>,<br /> -<em>May 10, 1915</em>.</p> - -<p class="drop"><span class="smcap">The</span> two most simple personalities that I -have met in this war are the Grand Duke -Nicholas, and the Commander who has come to -the Northern Armies to take up the post made -vacant by the retirement of General Russky. -Certain business relating to desired freedom of -movement in the zone of operations took the -writer to the head-quarters of General Alexieff, -which is situated in a place not very far away. -Without giving away any figures it is perhaps -safe to say that the command of General -Alexieff is twice the size of that now under -Field-Marshal Sir John French on the continent. -The territory occupied by the armies -commanded by him covers an enormous area, and -probably up to this war there has been no single -individual in the history of the world with such -a vast military organization as that over which -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">64</span> -General Alexieff presides as supreme dictator, subject -only to the Grand Duke himself. The whole -aspect of the headquarters of which he is the presiding -genius is, in atmosphere, the last word in -the modern idea of a commanding general’s place -of abode. The town in which he is living is -perhaps a model one from the point of view of -the gentlemen who write the textbooks and -sketch the details of the programme and course -which should be adopted by military chiefs. -The theory in the Japanese Army was that the -brains of the army should be so far away from -the actual scene of operations, that the officer -would be absolutely detached from the atmosphere -of war; and that between himself and the Front -there should be installed so many nervous shock -absorbers that the office of the great chief himself -should be the realm of pure reason with -no noise nor excitement nor hurrying aides to -impair his judgment.</p> - -<p>I recall a conversation I once had with Major -(now Lt.-General) Tanaka, Oyama’s personal -A.D.C. “I should have liked to have been -with the General Staff,” I remarked to him, -“during the Battle of Moukden. It must have -been an exciting time with you.” My friend -laughed and answered, “You would have had -a great surprise, I imagine. There was no excitement -at all. How do you suppose Oyama -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">65</span> -and his staff spent much of their time during -the battle?” One naturally imagined that it -was spent scrutinizing maps and making plans, -and I said this to Tanaka. “Not at all,” he -replied, “when the battle began, our work was -largely finished. It was but necessary to make -an occasional change in the line here and there, -and this too, for only a few minutes of the time -of the Field-Marshal. Most of the time he and -Kodame (Chief of General Staff) were playing -croquet.”</p> - -<p>Much the same atmosphere of detachment -from the activities of the campaign may be seen -to-day in the little Polish city where Alexieff -has his head-quarters, except that no one here has -time for croquet. It is a safe venture that -outside of his own staff there are not fifty soldiers -in the whole town. It is in fact less military -in appearance than any city I have ever seen -since I have have been in Russia. In front of -his office are a couple of soldiers, and a small -Russian flag hangs over the door. Nothing -outside would lead one to believe that within is -the man in the palm of whose hand lies the fate -and movements of hundreds upon hundreds -of thousands of men, and at whose word a -thousand guns will spread death and destruction. -In trenches miles away, stretching through -forest and along hilltops, numberless regiments -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">66</span> -and brigades await the curt order from this -building to launch themselves against the German -lines.</p> - -<p>The man himself is as quiet and unobtrusive -as are his surroundings. Perhaps fifty-eight -or fifty-nine in years with a very intellectual -face and an almost shy manner, is Alexieff, the -man whom current gossip credits with the keenest -brain in the Russian field armies. As Ivanov’s -Chief of Staff, he is said to have been a great -factor in the planning and the execution of much -of the Galician campaign, and those who know -him well, believe that under his direction great -things will be accomplished in Poland. The -General is very quiet and retiring, and from a -very brief observation one would say that he -was primarily a man of strategy, more at home -solving the intellectual problems of a campaign -than in working out tactical puzzles in the field.</p> - -<p>The staff of the quiet unostentatious Russian -who is commanding this enormous front consists -of about seventy-five members (about the same -number as Kusmanek of Przemysl fame had on -his personal staff for the defence of the city), -and taken as a whole, they are most serious and -hard-working men, if their looks do not belie -them. “You would be surprised,” an A.D.C. -informed me, “to know the enormous amount -of work that we all get through here. There -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">67</span> -is a lull on this front now, and it is comparatively -an easy time, but in spite of that fact we are all -of us busy from morning until night. When -there is a movement under way we do not get -any rest even at nights.” One comes from Warsaw -where rumours are flying thick and fast -as to German advances and Russian mishaps, -to find everything serene and calm and the -general opinion of the staff one of great optimism. -For the moment the Russians are in -the trough of the sea, as it were, and all of -the late news from Galicia is not particularly -favourable; but if the attitude of the staff is -any criterion, the situation is not felt to be of a -critical nature, and for the first time in months -one hears officers expressing the opinion that -the war will end this year.</p> - -<p>There is a tendency to welcome the German -impetuosity of attack, for each fresh irruption -means a weakening of the enemy. The Russian -theory is that Russia can stand the losses, large -as they are, almost indefinitely, and that she is -willing to take the burden of breaking the German -wave again and again if need be, knowing -that each assault of the enemy is bringing them -nearer and nearer to the end of their tether. -Since the latest irruption into Galicia we hear -less talk of a Russian advance in the near future, -but certainly not a sign of discouragement in -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">68</span> -any of the high quarters. One may well believe -that this last outburst was not anticipated, but -the Russians over on this side are as ready to -“play” the fish now as they were when the war first -started. It was hoped after the January-February -attacks, that the enemy was exhausted and the -time was in sight when the gaff might be of use. -Now the fish has taken another spurt, and the -Russians are letting out the line again and -are prepared to let it have another fling in -their waters. But they believe none the less -that the enemy is firmly hooked, and that it is -merely a question of time when from sheer exhaustion -he will tire and they may begin to drive -home their own attacks.</p> - -<p>The Russian attitude is very philosophical, -and though a people who are temperamentally -not without a vein of melancholy, they take -this war with much more equanimity than one -could have imagined possible. Retreats and -shifting of lines no longer create panics over here. -People are sorry. They had hoped that the -Germans were nearer the point of exhaustion, -but there is not the slightest indication of discouragement. -Probably their attitude is due -primarily to the fact that they had never anticipated -an easy victory nor a short war. They -knew from the start that they were in for a -terrific ordeal, and what goes on day after day, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">69</span> -with its ebbs and its floods, is merely a matter -of the day’s work with them. They have seen -again and again the irruptions of the Germans -gradually absorbed by their troops, and each -set back now is accepted as only temporary. -The movement of the Germans in Courland -has hardly made any impression at all in -Russia generally, if the reports one hears are -true.</p> - -<div id="i_068" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_068.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>Russian soldiers performing their native dance.</p> -</div> - -<p>The Russians had practically no troops in that -province, which itself offered no great strategic -advantage to the Germans. Taking advantage -of this weak spot, the Germans with a number of -corps—it is placed as high as three—poured into -the almost unprotected country.</p> - -<p>The Russians say that the German motive is -first that they would be able to announce to their -people that they had occupied enemy territory, -and second that the rich province would -give them certain much needed supplies. For -a day or two the progress seems to have been -almost without interruption, but now we hear -that it has been checked and that the enemy -are gradually giving way before the Russians, -who have shifted troops to that front to prevent -further advances. The occupation of Libau does -not seem to worry any one very much. “What -good will it do them?” one Russian officer said -to me? “No doubt they will fortify it and -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">70</span> -make it as strong as possible. Probably we will -never try to get it back while the war lasts. -Why should we? It is of no great value strategically, -and it is not worth the price of lives and -troops detached from other points to retake it. -When we have won, it will naturally come back -to us without our having to spend a single extra -life in getting it.”</p> - -<p>The situation in Galicia is still something of -a puzzle, but those in authority do not seem -to be taking it over seriously. There is reason -to believe that it is a repetition of what has -occurred again and again on this and other -fronts. The Germans, by means of their superior -rail facilities made a sudden concentration and -hit the Russian line with such energy as to force -its retirement. Each mile of the Russian retreat -has strengthened their army by the additions of -reserves, while it has probably seen an increasing -weakening of the enemies’. The sudden advance -of the enemy has forced the withdrawal of the -Russians pushing through the Dukla, who were -obviously menaced in their communications. I -am told now that the German attacks have -already passed their zenith, and that the Russians -reinforced by new troops are confident of checking -any further advance. Over here it is but a -question of breaking the first fury of the attack. -When that is done we can count on the Russian -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">71</span> -muoujik slowly but surely to force his way back -over the lost ground. The end of the incident -sees the Russians stronger and the Germans -weaker. It is futile for any one to attempt to -estimate how many more of these irruptions -the Germans are capable of, but we are certain -that be it this summer or next there is a limit -to them. When that limit has been reached the -Russian advance will begin. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">72</span> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">73</span></p> - -<p class="ph1">CHECKING UP THE SITUATION IN -POLAND</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">74</span></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">75</span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V<br /> - -<span class="large">CHECKING UP THE SITUATION IN -POLAND</span></h2> - -<p class="author"> -<span style="padding-right: 3em">Dated:</span><br /> -<span class="smcap" style="padding-right: 3em">Warsaw,</span><br /> -<em>May 24, 1915</em>.</p> - -<p class="drop"><span class="smcap">A few</span> weeks ago the writer expressed the -opinion that a permanent optimism had -come to Warsaw. For several weeks this impression -seemed to have every justification in -fact, but since the commencement of the Galician -movement in the south the confidence felt -by the saner members of the community has -been utterly submerged by the pessimism which -in waves has swept over the town. One finds -it impossible to know definitely from what exact -quarters all the false stories start, and if one -tries to run them down the <em>trail</em> speedily vanishes. -The explanation is that the Jews in -Poland are so unfriendly to Russian interests -and Russian successes, that the slightest set-back, -or rumour of bad news, is seized on by -them, and in a few hours is spread all over the -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">76</span> -town, exaggerated grossly with every telling. It -is really extraordinary, after ten months of war, -how persistent these hostile factions are in their -hope of German success. There are, besides -the Jews, probably many Austrian agents, who -use the slightest pretext to start stories in the -hope of creating a panic.</p> - -<p>Within the last two weeks every imaginable -tale has been current. Last week there was so -much vagueness in regard to the news coming -up from the south of Poland, that it seemed -wise to make a quick tour in the rear of the -Russian positions in order to get some opinion -of the real situation. The collection of war -news falls very definitely into two classes, descriptive -writing and material which is merely -indicative of the situation as a whole. The -former is of course more interesting to the -average reader, but the latter is far more -important from every other angle. After ten -months of war, the vital question now is -whether the Germans are advancing or retiring, -and not so much how the battles -themselves are conducted, or what sort of a -picture is presented in the different actions. -So my trip of yesterday, though not in the least -picturesque in its happenings, was extremely -interesting in that it offered an emphatic contradiction -to practically every adverse rumour -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">77</span> -that had gained currency in Warsaw for the week -previously.</p> - -<div id="i_076" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_076.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>The Polish Legion. Note the small boy in the ranks as mascot.</p> -</div> - -<p>We left Warsaw at six in the morning in our -racing car, and as soon as we were clear of the -town and headed in the direction of Radom, -on the fine macadam highway, we were able -to develop a speed that no express train in -Russia has made since the declaration of war. -This highway has been the artery of travel and -communication over which ammunition, transport -and guns have moved almost without interruption -for ten months. That the Russians -have kept it in good condition, is apparent from -the fact that we were able to make above 65 -versts an hour on many stretches of the way. I -passed over the same road many times during the -first months of the war, and its condition now -is infinitely better than it was in those days.</p> - -<p>On every hand are evidences of increased -Russian efficiency. The war now has become -strictly a matter of organization, and everything -goes on now without excitement and -without confusion of any sort. Road gangs -have been organized, and these highways -are maintained with as much care as the permanent -way of a railway line. One sign of the -times is the new departure of the Russian authorities, -in building at intervals of about every -5 versts a boiled water station, which is distinguished -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">78</span> -by a special flag. Here in a shed closed -on three sides is a great boiler with numerous -taps on it. When troops are passing in any -quantities the water is kept hot that the soldiers -may always get boiling water for their -tea. When there is small movement on the -road, they can always get it cold for drinking -purposes.</p> - -<p>As it was Sunday we found the road practically -free of transport. Barring occasional -soldiers sauntering along the highway there -was no sign of war until we were within -a few miles of Radom, when, perhaps 20 -versts to the west, columns of smoke, drifting -lazily off in the still air, indicated where some -German battery had been shelling some unfortunate -village. Away off on the horizon a few -faint puffs of white in the blue showed where -our batteries were breaking shrapnel under a -speck of an aeroplane, which had evidently been -on a morning tour of inspection. I was rather -curious to see Radom, because for a week we -had been told in Warsaw that a terrible panic -prevailed here, and that the population were -leaving in a frenzy of terror to avoid the sweep -of the Germans on Warsaw, that same old story -which has for so many months been circulated -by the Jewish population. But Radom itself -was as quiet and casual as a city of the same -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">79</span> -size in far off America might have been on a -Sunday morning. The streets were crowded -with the population in their best clothes going -to church, and the panic so widely discussed -in Warsaw was conspicuous by its absence.</p> - -<p>I talked with a number of the townspeople, and -they were as surprised as they could be to know -that they were all (according to Warsaw) in -full flight for the other side of the Vistula. What -astonishes one most is the absolute lack of information -in one place of what is going on in -the next town. Kielce is but 30 miles from -Radom, yet I could find no one, neither officer -nor civilian, who could say positively whether -on this particular day it was in our hands or -in the hands of the enemy. We did learn however -from an officer that the road had been badly -cut up, and that fighting had taken place near -Kielce, with destruction of bridges, which would -make it impossible for us to get there in a car. -As a fact, I learned later in the day that the -road for perhaps 15 versts north of Kielce -was held by German cavalry, and so was just -as well satisfied that we had not gone that -way.</p> - -<p>Radom I found was outside the army group -which I had a special permit to visit, and it -was therefore necessary to call on the General -commanding the army before I could with propriety -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">80</span> -pay a visit to any of the corps commanders -in this theatre of war. It was necessary, -therefore, to motor to a certain point east of -the Vistula to pay our respects to this gentleman. -Well on in the afternoon we motored into the -beautiful grounds of a Polish villa and spent -several hours with one of the men who, with a -number of corps, was able to contribute an important -part to the defeat of the Austrians on -the Grodek line in the fall of last year. Here -we were cordially received both by the General -and by his staff, two of whom at once ordered -refreshments for us and remained with us until -we started back for Warsaw late in the day.</p> - -<p>From this point we were in touch with the -sources of information flowing in from both Southern -Poland and the great battlefield in Galicia. -All the Russian corps in Poland, with the exception -of one that lay next the Vistula, had -been inactive during the past weeks, and after -shifting their position to the new line, made -necessary by the retirement of the Galician -army, had been ordered to remain strictly on -the defensive. The corps lying next the Vistula, -however, was only across the river from the great -action going on south of them, and after days -of listening to the roar of their brothers’ cannon -to the south, they were in anything but a placid -or quiet mood. The whole line, in fact, was figuratively -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">81</span> -being held on the leash, but this last -corps had been so infected by the contagion of -the action to the south that it proved very difficult -to keep the units in their trenches. At -the first feeler of the German advance, which -came up on their side of the Vistula, they at -once jumped at the conclusion that the best -defensive was a strong attack, and with this -idea in mind they considered, no doubt, that -they were strictly in accord with their defensive -orders when they attacked the Germans.</p> - -<div id="i_080" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_080.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>The Vistula (winter).</p> - -<p>Soldiers are seen in the picture destroying the broken ice. This is a great danger to the bridges when -carried away by the current.</p> -</div> - -<p>The ball was started, as far as I can learn, by -a cavalry colonel who, with a small command, -attacked a pontoon bridge train that, in some -incredible way, was poking along in advance -with only a meagre escort. The advance of -this small unit of horsemen served as a spark -in the Russian powder magazine, and within -a few hours the whole corps was engaged in an -attack on the German infantry. It is hard to -get any accurate details of the operations, but -this fighting lasted probably two to three days. -The ardent Russian regiments fell on the centre -of a German formation, which was said to be -the 46th Landsturm corps, smashed its centre -and dissipated its flanking supports of a division -each. The Russians claim that 12,000 were -left on the field and that they took 6,000 prisoners. -In any case there is no question that -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">82</span> -this action put out at least one corps from further -activity as an efficient unit.</p> - -<p>The German prisoners captured expressed themselves -as greatly surprised at the Russians attacking -them. They had been told that the Russians had -all crossed the Vistula and were in rapid retreat -to the west, and that the probabilities were that -the road to Moscow would be open in a few weeks. -From various members of the Russian Staff -I obtained many details as to the fighting in -Galicia, which all agreed had been terrific but -was going extremely well for them on the line -of the San river. It is too soon to attempt a -detailed account of this action, but it will form -one of the greatest stories of the whole war when -the returns are all in. Suffice it to say that -the Russians had been aware of the impending -attack for several weeks, and had been preparing, -in case of necessity, a retirement on to a -position upon the San river with Przemysl as -the salient thereof.</p> - -<p>This Russian retreat did not come as a surprise -even to the writer. As far back as a -month ago he was aware of feverish activities -in rehabilitating the Przemysl defences, -and though at that time the object was vague, -it became clear enough when this crisis broke -that the Russians had foreseen the possibility -of the failure to hold the Dunajec line. The -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">83</span> -Germans carried this by a concentration of -artillery fire, probably greater even than that -of the English guns at Neuve Chapelle. So -fierce was this torrent of flying steel that the -Russian line was eaten away in the centre, and -in the Carpathian flank, and there seems reason -to believe that the army on the Dunajec was -cut in three sections when it began to retire. -That it pulled itself together and has been able -to hold itself intact on the San up to the time -of this writing is evidence of the resiliency of -the Russian organization.</p> - -<p>The Russians having had the alternative in -view, withdrew with great speed, destroying -bridges and approaches in order to delay the -Germans. In the meantime both their reserves -of men and munitions were being pushed up -to await them on the San line. When the -Germans came up in strength with their tongues -hanging out, and their formations suffering from -lack of rest and lack of ammunition, they found -the Russian line waiting for them. It is futile -to estimate the German losses at this time, but -they will be in the hundreds of thousands, and -a final count will show them to be at least two -to three times greater than the Russian sacrifices. -A German prisoner is said to have made -the complaint that the Russians fought like -barbarians. “Had they been civilized people,” -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">84</span> -he is reported to have said, “they would have -stayed on the Dunajec and fought like men. -In that case we would have utterly destroyed -their army.” Instead of that they went away -and fought on the San. What seems to have happened -is that the Germans were not actually -short of ammunition, but in extending their line -to the San they could not bring it up with the -same rapidity as in the Dunajec and Carpathian -attacks; the result was that they were unable -to feed their guns according to their new artillery -programme begun on the Dunajec line, -a programme no doubt borrowed from the west. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">85</span></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">86</span></p> - -<p class="ph1">A VISIT TO THE POSITIONS</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">87</span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI<br /> - -<span class="large">A VISIT TO THE POSITIONS</span></h2> - -<p class="author"> -<span style="padding-right: 3em">From:</span><br /> -<span class="smcap">Somewhere on the Rawka Line</span>,<br /> -<em>May 25, 1915</em>.</p> - -<p class="drop"><span class="smcap">During</span> the comparative lull on the Bzura-Rawka-Pilitza -line I have been trying -to go about to certain important salients on -our front and have a look both at the terrain, -and the positions which we are defending.</p> - -<p>Leaving Warsaw by motor we ran out to the -head-quarters of a certain army where we found -the General living in the palace of a Polish noble. -Beautiful avenues of trees gave access to a wonderful -garden with a little lake before an old -mansion dating back to the eighteenth century. -Here in the quiet seclusion of a little forest lives -the general, who presides over the destinies of perhaps -150,000 men. We are received cordially by -the Chief of Staff who, with exemplary patience, -reads over the twelve permits of various sorts -which complete the constantly growing collection of -authorizations for me to come and go on this -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">88</span> -front. After careful scrutiny of all he sighs -heavily, for perhaps he is not an admirer of the -press, but none the less he inquires cordially -what we would like to do. “Heavy batteries -and observation points” is always my reply for -reasons already explained. A smart young aide -is sent for who, it appears, speaks English fluently, -having lived for some time in America. The -staff offer us an additional automobile, and while -this is being brought round we sit out under -the trees in the garden. Just behind the house, -in a bower, is another officer of the staff sitting -in an easy-chair behind a table before which -stand a group of Austrian prisoners whom he -is examining for information. After a few minutes -our young aide comes back, and with two -automobiles we start for the positions.</p> - -<p>We must first go to the head-quarters of an -army corps. This is distant 25 versts, and -as the roads are for the most part short cuts -across the fields, it takes us more than an hour -to reach a very unpretentious village where we -meet the General commanding the — Corps. -This man is distinctly of the type that war produces. -He was only a minor general when the -war started, but efficiency in action has given -him two promotions. Shabby and war-worn -he is living in a mere hovel, still wearing the -uniform and shoulder straps of two grades back -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">89</span> -when he was a somewhat humble officer in the -artillery. By him we are supplied with a soldier -guide and go off to the head-quarters of an -artillery brigade where we find the commander -of the guns who provides us with a member of -his staff. This officer joins our party, and directs -us to the head-quarters of an artillery unit -composed of a number of batteries. I say unit -because it is all controlled from one point of -observation.</p> - -<p>By the time we pull up between a couple of -ruined peasants’ homes, only the walls of which -are standing; it is after seven in the evening. -From a kind of cave among the debris -there emerged three or four tired-looking -artillerymen who are in charge of the guns in -these positions. The country here is flat and -rolling, with a little ridge to the west of us, which -cuts off the view into the valley beyond, in which -are the lines of the Russian and German trenches. -Leaving our automobiles in the road, we stroll -through a wheat-field toward the ridge, distant -perhaps 1,000 yards. In the corner of the -field is a hedge, and behind the hedge is a -battery of field guns. One notices with each -passing month the increasing cleverness of the -Russians in masking their batteries. Though -this is no wood, we walk almost on to the position -before we discover the guns at all. They -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">90</span> -are well dug in, with small fir trees borrowed -from neighbouring bits of woodland stuck in -the ground all about them. Each gun is separated -from its brother by a screen of green, and -boughs above mask the view from an aeroplane. -From the front one would never see them at all -unless one were looking closely. To-night the -last red rays from the setting sun just catch -a twinkle of the steel in their shining throats, -as their long sleek snouts protrude from the -foliage. The shields are painted a kind of green -which helps still more to make them invisible.</p> - -<p>This particular battery, so its Colonel tells us, -has had a great laugh on the enemy during the -past few days. What happened was this. A -German Taube flew over the line several times, -and it kept coming back so frequently and hovering -over the battery, that the officers who were -watching it became suspicious that they had -been spotted. When darkness fell the entire -personnel of the battery became extremely busy, -and by working like bees they moved their guns -perhaps 600 yards to the south and by daylight -had them in the new positions and fairly well -masked. Shortly after sunrise back came the -aeroplane, and when over the old position it -gave a signal to its own lines and then flew back. -Almost instantly hell broke loose on the abandoned -spot. In walking over the ground one -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">91</span> -is amazed at the accuracy of long range artillery -fire, for in the ten-acre lot in which the old position -was the centre there was hardly ten square -yards without its shell hole, while the ground -was a junk heap of steel and shrapnel fragments. -Six hundred yards away the men of the battery -watched it all and laughed their sides out at the -way they had fooled the Germans. This particular -battery had bothered the enemy a great -deal and they were on the look out for it. -Probably there will be further competitions of wits -before the week is out. From glancing at the -field torn up with shell fire one begins to realize -what observation means to the enemy. With -modern methods a single signal from an aeroplane -may mean the wiping out in a few minutes -of an unsuspecting battery that has been safely -hidden for months.</p> - -<p>Leaving the guns, we saunter across the wheat-field -toward the ridge, the great red ball of the -setting sun dazzling our eyes with its aspect -of molten steel. On the very crest of the rolling -ground is a grove of stunted firs, and through -this lies a path to the observation trench which -is entered by an approach growing gradually -deeper until, cutting through the very ridge, it -ends in the observation trench dug out of the -earth on the western slope. For the last couple -of hundred yards before we enter the approaches, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">92</span> -we are in plain view of the German gunners, -but we had supposed that at the distance a few -men would not be noticed. Evidently, however, -our observers in the German line have -had their eyes glued on this spot, for we had -barely entered the trench when a shell burst -down in front of us. The writer was looking -through the hyperscope at the time, but imagined -that it was at least half a mile away. An instant -later came the melancholy wail of another shell -over our heads and the report of its explosion -half way between us and our motor-car in the -road. Behind it came another and another -each one getting nearer our trench. The last -one passed a few feet over our heads and burst -just beyond, covering us in the trench with dust and -filling our nostrils with the fumes of gunpowder. -Another shortening up of the range might have -landed in our delightful retreat, but evidently -the Germans became discouraged, for we heard -nothing more from them.</p> - -<p>Through the hyperscopes one could look out over -the beautiful sweep of the valley studded with little -farms, the homes of which are mostly in ruins. -This point from which we were studying the landscape -was only 100 yards from our own line of -trenches, which lay just in front of and below us, -while not more than 75 yards beyond were the -line of the German trenches. So clear were they -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">93</span> -in the field of the hyperscope that one could -actually see the loopholes in the ridge of earth. -Our own were, of course, open from the back, and -one could see the soldiers moving about in their -quarters or squatting comfortably against the -walls of the trenches. Away to the west were -ridges of earth here and there, where our friends -of the artillery told us were reserve trenches, -while they pointed out groves of trees or ruined -villages in which they suspected lurked the German -guns.</p> - -<div id="i_092" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_092.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>Russian officers in an artillery observation position.</p> -</div> - -<p>After the report of the shells had died -away and the dust settled there was the -silence of absolute peace and serenity over the -whole valley. Not a rifle shot or a human noise -broke the beautiful calm of the May sunset. -Off to the west glimmered the silver stream of -the Rawka. To look out over this lovely -valley in the falling twilight it seemed incredible -that thousands of men lay concealed -under our very eyes, men who were waiting -only a favourable opportunity to leap out of -their trenches and meet each other in hand-to-hand -combat. On the advice of our guides, we -waited in our secure little trench until the last -red rays of the sun were cut off by the horizon -in the west, when we returned by the way we -had come to the waiting automobiles.</p> - -<p>The whole valley in this section is very flat, and -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">94</span> -the ridges such as the one I have described are very -scarce. The Russian lines are extremely strong, -and one gets the idea that they would require -a good deal of taking before the Germans could -occupy them. Our artillery seemed to be in -excellent quantities, and the ammunition situation -satisfactory if the officer may be believed. -The rears of all these positions have been prepared -for defence, and there are at least three -lines or groups of trenches lying between this -front and Warsaw, each of which would present -as strong a defence as the line which now for -many months has defied all efforts of the enemy -to get through.</p> - -<p>I was especially interested in looking over -this locality, because in Warsaw it has been -mentioned as a point where the Russians were -in great danger, and where they were barely -able to hold their own. The truth is that -there has been little fighting here for months -excepting an occasional burst of artillery, or now -and then a spasm of inter-trench fighting between -unimportant units. I told our guide of -the dismal stories we heard, and he only laughed -as he pointed out to me a level stretch of country -on our side of the ridge. A number of young -Russian officers were riding about on prancing -horses. “See there,” my friend told me, “we -have laid out a race course, and the day after -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">95</span> -to-morrow the officers of this brigade are going -to have a steeplechase. You see they have -built a little platform for the general to stand -on and judge the events. We are only 1,000 -yards here from the trenches of the enemy. So -you see we do not feel as anxious about the safety -of our position as they do in Warsaw.” He -lighted a cigarette and then added seriously: -“No, the Germans cannot force us here, nor do -I think on any of the other Warsaw fronts. Our -positions have never been as strong as they are -to-day.”</p> - -<p>A few minutes later we were in our motors -speeding through the twilight to the village in -our rear where the Chief of Staff of the — Corps -had arranged quarters for us. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">96</span> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">97</span></p> - -<p class="ph1">A SUMMER DAY ON THE RAWKA -LINE</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">98</span></p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">99</span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII<br /> - -<span class="large">A SUMMER DAY ON THE RAWKA -LINE</span></h2> - -<p class="author"> -<span style="padding-right: 3em">From:</span><br /> -<span class="smcap">A Certain Army Corps Head-quarters -Not Far from the Rawka.</span><br /> -<em>May 26, 1915.</em></p> - -<p class="drop"><span class="smcap">The</span> month of May in Poland, if this season -is typical of the climate here, is a period -to dream about. When we turned out of our -camp beds early this morning, the sun was streaming -into our little whitewashed room, while the -fragrance of lilacs blooming in a near-by garden -drifted in at the open window. In the little -garden behind our house are a dozen colonies -of bees, and already they are up and about their -daily tasks. The sky is without a cloud and -the warmth and life of the early spring morning -makes one forget the terrible business that we -are engaged in. The little street of the town -is lined with great horse-chestnut trees now -in full bloom with every branch laden deep -with the great white pendent blossoms. For a -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">100</span> -moment one stands drinking in the beauty of -the new day and the loveliness of the morning, -with one’s mind drifting far, far away to other -scenes where flowers too are blooming at this -season of the year. But as our eyes wander -down the street, the thoughts of gentler things -are suddenly dissipated, and with a jolt one’s -mind comes back to the work-a-day world whose -daily task now is the destruction of an enemy -in the line of trenches not so many miles -away.</p> - -<p>What has broken the peaceful tremor of our -thoughts is the sight of some soldiers pulling -into the town a half-wrecked aeroplane brought -down by artillery fire the day before near our -lines. Its wings are shattered and its propellers -twisted into kindling, while its slight body (if one -can use that expression) is torn and punctured -by a score or more of shrapnel holes, with several -gashes where bits of the shell case had penetrated -the thin metal frame. Here at least is one example -of artillery practice which has been able -to cripple the bird of ill omen on the wing. After -a generous breakfast, provided by our kind host -the General, we are in our motor-cars again -and in a few minutes are speeding down one -of the roads westward to the head-quarters of -a certain artillery brigade who over the telephone -have consented to show us particular -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">101</span> -choice sights that they have on exhibition on -their front.</p> - -<p>Every village that we pass through is full -of soldiers bestirring for the day, while already -the main arteries of travel to the trenches are -filling up with the activities of the morning. -It is a perfectly still day, and with each advancing -hour it is growing hotter. There has been -no rain for a week or two, the dust is deep upon -the roads, and as our cars hum along the highways -we leave volumes of the thin cloud in our -wake. Now and again we pass small columns -of infantry marching cheerfully along in the -sunshine, each man in a cloud of dust. Yet -every face is cheerful, and almost without exception -the men are singing their marching -songs as they swing along the highways. In -the villages and on the road everything suggests -war, but now with quite a different atmosphere -from that of last autumn. Then it was war -also, but of war the novelty, the new and the -untried. Then all faces were anxious, some -apprehensive, some depressed. They were going -into a new experience. Now, however, it is war -as a tried and experienced profession that is -about us.</p> - -<p>The conduct of the campaign has become as -much of a business to the soldiers and to the -officers as the operating of a railroad to men -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">102</span> -engaged in running it. The deaths and the wounds -have become to these men we see now simply a -part of their profession, and they have seen so -much of this side of the business that it has -long since been discounted. The whole atmosphere -of the front as we see it in May is as that -of a permanent state of society. These men -look as though they had been fighting for ten -years and expected to be fighting for the rest -of their days. War has become the commonplace -and peace seems the unreality.</p> - -<p>At brigade head-quarters we halt a few minutes -and are directed to proceed slowly along a -certain road, and advised to stop in a cut just -before passing over a certain crest. When we -learn that the enemy’s guns command the road -over the crest we inquire with the keenest interest -the exact location of the ridge mentioned, -for something suggests to us that this is a bit -of interesting information that the artillery -officer is handing out to us so very casually. -They are all casual by the way; probably they -have all got so used to sudden death and destruction -that they feel as nonchalant about their -own fate as they do about others. Half an -hour’s run over very heavy and sandy road, -brought us on to a great white ribbon of a highway -that ran due west and dipped over the -ridge. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">103</span></p> - -<p>This was our place, and stopping the cars we -climbed out to meet a few officers sauntering -down the road. They seemed to be coming -from nowhere in particular, but as I learned -later, they lived in a kind of cave dug out of -the side of the road, and had been advised by -telephone that we were coming and so were on -the lookout for us. The ranking officer was a -colonel of artillery—one of the kind that you -would turn about in the street to look at and to -say to yourself, “Every inch a soldier.” A -serious, kindly-faced man in a dirty uniform -with shoulder straps so faded and frayed that -a second look was necessary to get his rank at -all. For six months he had been living in just -such quarters as the cave in the side of the road -where we found him. He was glad to show us -his observation. One could see at a glance -that his whole heart and soul were wrapped up -in his three batteries, and he spoke of all his -positions and his observation points with as -much pride as a mother speaking about her -children.</p> - -<p>The country here is a great sweeping expanse, -with just a few ridges here and there like the -one that we have come up behind. The country -reminds one of the valley of the Danube or perhaps -the Red River Valley in North Dakota, -except that the latter has less timber in it. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">104</span> -We are ourselves quite uncertain as to where -the enemy’s position is, for in the sweep of the -valley there is little to indicate the presence -of any army at all, or to suggest the possibility -of hostilities from any quarter. I asked one -of the officers who strolled along with us where -the German lines were. “Oh, over there,” he -remarked, casually waving his hand in a northerly -direction. “Probably they can see us then,” -I suggested. Personally I felt a mild curiosity -in the subject which apparently my companion -did not share. He stopped and offered me a -cigarette, and as he lighted one himself, he murmured -indifferently, “Yes, I dare say they could -see us if they turned their glasses on this ridge. -But probably they won’t. Can I give you a -light?”</p> - -<p>I thanked him politely and also commended -the sun for shining in the enemy’s eyes instead -of over their shoulders as happened last -night when the observer in the German battery -spotted us at 6,000 yards and sent five shells -to tell us that we were receiving his highest -consideration. On the top of a near-by hill was -a small building which had formerly been the -Russian observation point, but the Germans -suspecting this had quickly reduced it to a pile -of ruins. Near by we entered a trench cut in -from the back of the hill, and worked our way -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">105</span> -up to an observation station cut out of the side -of the slope in front of the former position.</p> - -<div id="i_104" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_104.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>A first-line trench in Poland.</p> -</div> - -<p>It was now getting on toward noon and intensely -hot. The view from this position as -one could sweep it with the hyperscope was perfectly -beautiful. Off to the west twinkled the -silver ribbon of the Rawka, while the whole plain -was dotted with fields of wheat and rye that -stretched below us like a chess board. Here -and there where had been houses were now but -piles of ruins. The lines here were quite far -apart—perhaps half a mile, and in between them -were acres of land under cultivation. I think -that the most remarkable thing that I have -seen in this war was the sight of peasants working -between the lines as calmly as though no -such thing as war existed. Through the glasses -I could distinctly see one old white beard with -a horse ploughing up a field, and even as I was -looking at him I saw a shell burst not half a -mile beyond him near one of the German positions. -I mentioned it to one of the officers. -“Oh yes,” he said, “neither we nor the Germans -fire on the peasants nowadays. They -must do their work and they harm neither of -us.”</p> - -<p>On this part of the line the war seems to -have become rather a listless affair and perfunctory -to say the least. I suppose both Germans -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">106</span> -and Russians have instructions just now -to hold themselves on the defensive. At any -rate I could distinctly see movements beyond -the German line, and I am sure they too must -have detected the same on our side. One man -on a white horse was clearly visible as he rode -along behind the German trenches, while I followed -with my glasses a German motor-car -that sped down a road leaving in its wake a -cloud of dust. Yet no one bothered much about -either of them. Now and again one of our big -guns behind us would thunder, and over our -heads we could hear the diminishing wail of a -15-centimetre shell as it sped on its journey to -the German lines. Through the hyperscope one -could clearly see the clouds of dirt and dust -thrown up by the explosion. One of these shells -fell squarely in one of the German trenches, -and as the smoke drifted away I could not -help wondering how many poor wretches had -been torn by its fragments. After watching -this performance for an hour or more, we returned -back through the trench and paid a visit to the -Colonel in his abode in the earth by the roadside. -For half an hour or more we chatted with him -and then bade him good-bye.</p> - -<p>A bit to the south-west of us lay a town which -a few days ago was shelled by the Germans. -This town lies in a salient of our line, and since -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">107</span> -the bombardment has been abandoned by all the -population. As it lay on the German side of -the slope we had three miles of exposed roadway -to cover to get to it, and another three miles -in view of the German line to get out of it.</p> - -<div id="i_106" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_106.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>Russian General inspecting his gunners.</p> -</div> - -<p>As we sped down this three miles one felt a -certain satisfaction that one had a 95 horsepower -Napier capable of doing 80 miles an -hour. A third of the town itself was destroyed -by the German shell fire. The rest was like a -city of the dead. Not a human being of the -population was to be seen in the streets, which -but a week ago were swarming with people. -Here and there a soldier from the near-by positions -lounged on an abandoned doorstep, or -napped peacefully under one of the trees in -the square. The sun of noon looked down -upon a deserted village, if one does not -count an occasional dog prowling about, or one -white kitty sitting calmly on a window ledge in -the sunshine casually washing her face. As ruins -have long ceased to attract us, we did not loiter -long here, but turned eastward along the great white -road that led back in the direction of Warsaw.</p> - -<p>There is one strip of this road which I suppose -is not more than 4,500 yards from the -German gun positions. Personally I am always -interested in these matters, and being of an -inquiring turn of mind I asked my friend the -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">108</span> -Russian officer, who was with me in the -car, if he thought the enemy could see us. -“Oh yes,” he replied quite cheerfully. “I am -sure they can see us, but I don’t think they -can hit us. Probably they won’t try, as they -are not wasting ammunition as much as they -used to. Won’t you have a cigarette?” I -accepted the smoke gladly and concluded that -it is the Russian custom to offer one a cigarette -every time one asks this question about the -German guns. Anyway, I got exactly the same -reply from this man as I did from the other in -the morning.</p> - -<p>Ten miles up the road we came on a bit of -forest where the unfortunate villagers who had -been driven out by shell fire were camping. Here -they were in the wood living in rude lean-to’s, -surrounded by all their worldly possessions that -they had the means of getting away. Cows, -ducks, pigs, and chicken roamed about the forests, -while dozens of children played about in -the dust.</p> - -<p>One picture I shall not forget. Before a hut -made of straw and branches of trees a mother -had constructed a rude oven in the earth by -setting on some stones the steel top of the kitchen -stove that she had brought with her. Kneeling -over the fire she was preparing the primitive -noonday meal. Just behind was a cradle in -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">109</span> -which lay a few weeks’ old baby rocked by a -little sister of four. Three other little children -stood expectantly around the fire, their little -mouths watering for the crude meal that was -in preparation. Behind the cradle lay the family -cow, her soft brown eyes gazing mournfully -at the cradle as she chewed reflectively at her -cud. In the door of the miserable little shelter -stretched a great fat sow sleeping sweetly with -her lips twitching nervously in her sleep. An -old hen with a dozen chicks was clucking to her -little brood within the open end of the hut. This -was all that war had left of one home.</p> - -<div id="i_108" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_108.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>Telephoning to the battery from the observation position.</p> -</div> - -<p>A hundred yards away a gang of labourers -was digging in the forest. It is no wonder that -the mother looks nervously from her fire at -their work. Perhaps she wonders what they -are about. We know. It is another line of -trenches. From what we have seen of the front -line we believe they will not be needed, but it -is not strange that these poor fugitives look on -with anxious eyes with the question written large -on every face. Probably to them the war seems -something from which they cannot escape. They -came to this wood for safety and now again -they see more digging of trenches going on.</p> - -<p>Another hour on the road brings us back to -the head-quarters of the army and our day in -May is over. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">110</span> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">111</span></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">112</span></p> - -<p class="ph1">THE CHANGE OF FRONT IN POLAND -AND THE BATTLE OF OPATOV</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">113</span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII<br /> - -<span class="large">THE CHANGE OF FRONT IN POLAND -AND THE BATTLE OF OPATOV</span></h2> - -<p class="author"> -<span style="padding-right: 3em">Dated:</span><br /> -<span class="smcap">Opatov, Poland</span>,<br /> -<em>May 31, 1915</em>.</p> - -<p class="drop"><span class="smcap">For</span> the last three days I have been with -a certain army of the Russians that occupies -the strip of Poland between the Pilitza -river and the Vistula on the south. I feel intense -regret that the restrictions of the censor proscribe -the identification of military units or -of their definite location. These wonderful corps, -divisions and battalions should, in my view, -have all the honour that is their due, but the -writer can only abide by the wishes of the -authorities by whose kindness and courtesy he -has been able to visit these positions.</p> - -<p>Leaving Warsaw in a motor car in the evening, -and running until an early hour in the -morning, we found ourselves the next day at -the head-quarters of one of the really great -army commanders of Russia. With him and -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">114</span> -the members of his staff we spent the chief -part of the morning, when every opportunity -was given us to study the situation within his -jurisdiction. To go to the Front, as I have often -written before, means a two to three days’ trip, -and the inspection of a single detail of the vast -operations that have been conducted. At the -suggestion of the Commander we decided to -visit a certain army corps in the south, whose -success in the operations attending the change -of front had been so extraordinary, that everyone -at the staff was filled with pride and eager -to have its work appreciated. Before going -on to describe the work of this particular corps -it is proper to mention a little more particularly -the work of this one army as a whole -since the beginning of the war.</p> - -<p>This army stood before Lublin during the crisis -in the early days of the war, and by uniting -with that of Plevie, and the two joining with -Russky to the east of them, there resulted the -first great crash to the Austrian arms in Galicia. -Later, this same army came back north and was -engaged in the terrific fighting around Ivangorod, -which resulted in the defeat of the enemy -and their expulsion from Poland last autumn.</p> - -<p>In the advance after the taking back of Radom -and Kielce, the army came under the very -walls of Cracow, and in all of its divisions and -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">115</span> -brigades there was scarcely a battalion that did -not distinguish itself in that terrific fighting. -When the Germans began their second invasion -of Poland last autumn, this army regretfully -fell back to its positions on the Nida river, and -when the last storm broke in Galicia and the -retirement of the army of the Dunajec rendered -a change of the Russian-Polish line a strategic -necessity, the army with all its numerous corps -was again called upon to fall back in order that -the Front as a whole might be a symmetrical one.</p> - -<p>During this change of front we heard a great -deal in Warsaw, from people who delight in -circulating false stories, of Russian disasters -in Southern Poland. I have been particularly -interested, therefore, in checking up this movement -on the ground and getting at the actual -facts of the case. As a fact, the Russian retirement -was made amid the lamentations and -grumbling of the whole army. The private -soldiers, who do not follow strategy very closely, -complained bitterly that they, who had never -met defeat, and before whom the enemy had -always fallen back when they attacked, should -be called upon to retreat when they were sure, -regiment by regiment, that they could beat -twice their numbers of the enemy. The Germans -and Austrians advanced with great -caution for several days. Knowing, however, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">116</span> -the location of the new Russian line, they -imagined that their adversaries would fall back -on it in a few big marches and await them there. -Besides this, both Germans and Austrians had -been carefully fed with reports of the Galician -movement to the effect that the Russians were -retiring in utter defeat, that even in Poland -they were panic-stricken and would probably -put up but a feeble fight even on their line.</p> - -<p>I could not in the brief time which I had for -this trip visit all the corps involved in this movement, -and at the suggestion of the General of the -army, visited only the — corps, whose operations -may be regarded as typical of the whole spirit -in which this front was changed. Regarding -the movement as a whole it is sufficient to say -that in the two weeks following the change of -line in Poland, the corps comprising this one -army made the enemy suffer losses, in killed, -wounded and prisoners, which the General estimated -at nearly 30,000, of whom about 9,000 -were prisoners. All of this was done at a comparatively -trifling loss to the Russians themselves. -From which very brief summary of -the change of front it will be realized that this -particular army has neither lost its fighting -spirit nor has its <em>moral</em> suffered from the -retirement to another line.</p> - -<div id="i_116" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_116.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>In the trenches near Opatov.</p> -</div> - -<p>There are so many big movements in this war -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">117</span> -that it is utterly impossible for one observer -to describe more than a trifling fraction of the -achievements that are made here. Since the -General Staff have given me what appears to -be a free range in the north-eastern armies, I -have had so many interesting opportunities -that it is difficult to pick any one in preference -to another. What I am writing in this story -is merely the narrative of a single corps during -this change of front, and I think it a significant -story, because I believe it typifies not only the -corps of this particular army, but practically all -the corps now in the field on this Front. General -Ragosa, who commands this corps, and who -has entertained me for the best part of three -days, has given me every opportunity to study -his whole movement and permitted one of his -officers to prepare sketches, illustrating his -movement. The General himself, like most -men who deal with big affairs, is a very modest -and simple man. To talk with him one would -not guess that the movement which has resulted -so successfully for his corps and so disastrously -for the enemy, was the product of a programme -worked out in the quiet of a remote head-quarters -and carried successfully through under his -direction by means of the field wire stretched -through the forest for the 30 kilometres that -separate his head-quarters from the fighting line. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">118</span></p> - -<p>When I suggested to him that his fighting -around Opatov made an extremely interesting -story, he only shrugged his shoulders and replied, -“But in this war it is only a small fight. What -is the operation of a single army, much less the -work of one of its units?” Yet one feels -that the success of this war will be the sum of -the work of the many units, and as this battle -resulted in the entire breaking up of the symmetry -of the Austro-German following movement, and -is one of the few actions during the recent months -of this war which was fought in the open without -trenches, it is extremely interesting. Indeed, -in any other war it would have been called a -good-sized action; from first to last on both -sides I suppose that more than 100,000 men -and perhaps 350 to 400 guns were engaged. -Let me describe it.</p> - -<p>General Ragosa’s corps was on the Nida river, -and it was with great regret that the troops left -the trenches that they had been defending all -winter. Their new line was extremely strong, -and after they had started, it was assumed by -the enemy that they could leisurely follow the -Russians, and again sit down before their positions.</p> - -<div id="i_118" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_118.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>Second-line trenches, Opatov.</p> -</div> - -<p>But they were not counting on this particular -General when they made their advance. Instead -of going back to his line, he brought his units to -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">119</span> -the line running from Lubenia to and through -Opatov to the south, where he halted and awaited -the advancing enemy who came on in four divisions. -These were the third German Landwehr division -who were moving eastward and a little to the north -of Lubenia. Next, coming from the direction -of Kielce was the German division of General -Bredow supported by the 84th Austrian regiment; -this unit was moving directly against -the manufacturing town of Ostzowiec. Further -to the south came the crack Austrian division, -the 25th, which was composed of the 4th Deutschmeister -regiment from Vienna and the 25th, -17th and 10th Jäger units, the division itself -being commanded by the Archduke Peter Ferdinand. -The 25th division was moving on the -Lagow road headed for Opatov, while the 4th -Austrian division (a Landwehr formation) supported -by the 41st Honved division (regiments -20, 31, 32 and one other) was making for the -same objective. It is probable that the enemy -units, approaching the command of Ragosa, -outnumbered the Russians in that particular -portion of the theatre of operations by at least -forty per cent. Certainly they never expected -that any action would be given by the supposedly -demoralized Russians short of their fortified -line, to which they were supposed by the enemy -to be retiring in hot haste. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">120</span></p> - -<p>General Ragosa wishing to finish up the weakest -portion first, as usual picked the Austrians for -his first surprise party. But this action he -anticipated by making a feint against the German -corps, driving in their advance guards by -vigorous attacks and causing the whole movement -to halt and commence deploying for an -engagement. This took place on May 15. On -the same day with all his available strength he -swung furiously, with Opatov as an axis from -both north and south, catching the 25th division -on the road between Lagow and Opatov with -a bayonet charge delivered from the mountain -over and around which his troops had been -marching all night. Simultaneously another -portion of his command swept up on the 4th -division coming from Iwaniska to Opatov. In -the meantime a heavy force of Cossacks had -ridden round the Austrian line and actually -hit their line of communications at the exact -time that the infantry fell on the main column -with a bayonet charge of such impetuosity and -fury that the entire Austrian formation crumpled -up.</p> - -<p>At the same time the 4th division was meeting -a similar fate further south; the two were thrown -together in a helpless mass and suffered a loss -of between three and four thousand in casualties -and nearly three thousand in prisoners, besides -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_121">121</span> -losing a large number of machine guns and the -bulk of their baggage. The balance, supported -by the 41st Honved division, which had been -hurried up, managed to wriggle themselves out -of their predicament by falling back on Wokacow, -and the whole retired to Lagow, beyond which -the Russians were not permitted to pursue them -lest they should break the symmetry of their own -entire line. Immediately after this action against -the Austrians, a large portion of the same troops -made a forced march back over the mountain -which had separated the Austrians from their -German neighbours and fell on the right of the -German formation, while the frontal attacks, -which had formerly been feints, were now -delivered in dead earnest.</p> - -<p>The result was that Bredow’s formation was -taken suddenly in front and on its right flank, -and on May 18 began to fall back until it was -supported by the 4th Landwehr division, which -had been hurriedly snatched out of the line -to the north to prevent Bredow from suffering -a fate similar to that which overtook the -Austrians to the south. After falling back to -Bodzentin where it was joined by the supports -from the north, the Germans pulled themselves -together to make a stand. But here, as in -the south, general orders prevented the Russians -from moving further against their defeated foe -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_122">122</span> -lest in their enthusiasm they might advance -too far and leave a hole in their own line. Thus -Ragosa’s command after four days of constant -action came to a stand and their part in the -movement ended.</p> - -<p>But the trouble of the enemy was not over. -Ragosa at once discovered that the 4th Landwehr -division that had been hurried up to support -retreating Bredow, had been taken from the -front of his neighbouring corps, and this information -he promptly passed on to his friend commanding -the — corps who gladly passed the -word on to his own front. The regiments in -that quarter promptly punched a hole in the -German weakened line, and with vicious bayonet -attacks killed and captured a large number of -Germans, also forcing back their line. Something -similar happened in the corps to the south of -Ragosa’s corps who were in a fever of excitement -because of the big fighting on the San, which -was going on just to their left while Ragosa’s -guns were thundering just to the north. The -result was that out of a kind of sympathetic -contagion, they fixed bayonets and rushed on -the enemy in their front with a fury equal to -that which was going on in both corps north -of them. Thus it came about that three quarters -of this particular army became engaged in -general action by the sheer initiative of Ragosa, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_123">123</span> -and maintained it entirely by the enthusiasm -of the troops engaged. These corps even in -retreat could not be restrained from going back -and having a turn with the enemy.</p> - -<div id="i_122" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_122.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>A second-line trench near Opatov.</p> -</div> - -<p>The change of front in Poland resulted in -losses in killed, wounded and prisoners to the -enemy, approximating in this army alone between -20,000 and 30,000, with a loss to the Russians -probably less than a third of that number, besides -resulting in an increase of <em>moral</em> to the latter, -which has fully offset any depression caused by -their retirement. In talking with their officers, -and I talked with at least a score, I heard -everywhere the same complaint, namely that -it was becoming increasingly difficult to keep -their soldiers in the trenches. So eager is the -whole army to be advancing, that only constant -discipline and watching prevent individual units -from becoming excited and getting up and attacking, -thus precipitating a general action which -the Russians wish to avoid while the movement -in Galicia is one of fluctuation and uncertainty.</p> - -<p>Little definite information was available on -this Front as to what was going on further south, -but certainly I found not the slightest sign of -depression among either men or officers with -whom I talked. As one remarked, “Well, what -of it? You do not understand our soldiers. -They can retreat every day for a month and -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">124</span> -come back as full of fight at the end of that time -as when they started. A few Russian ‘defeats,’ -as the Germans call them, will be a disaster for -the Kaiser. Don’t worry. We will come back -all right and it cannot be too soon for the taste -of this army.” -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">125</span></p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">126</span></p> - -<p class="ph1">WITH THE ARMY IN SOUTHERN -POLAND</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">127</span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX<br /> - -<span class="large">WITH THE ARMY IN SOUTHERN -POLAND</span></h2> - -<p class="author"> -<span style="padding-right: 3em">Dated:</span><br /> -<span class="smcap">A Certain Army Corps Head-quarters<br /> -Somewhere in Southern Poland</span><br /> -<em>June 1, 1915</em>.</p> - -<p class="drop"><span class="smcap">To-day</span> has been one of the most interesting -that I have spent since I came to Russia -last September. The General commanding this -certain army corps, which, while the war lasts, -must not be identified, carefully mapped out -an ideal day for us, and made it possible of -fulfilment by placing two motors at our -disposal and permitting a member of his -personal staff to accompany us as guide, -philosopher and friend. This very charming -gentleman, M. Riabonschisky, represents a -type which one sees increasingly in the Russian -Army as the war grows older. M. Riabonschisky -served his term of years in the army, and then -being wealthy and of a distinguished Moscow -family, went into the banking business, and -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">128</span> -the beginning of the war found him one of the -leading business men of the old Russian capital. -With the first call he instantly abandoned his -desk and sedentary habits, and became again -a subaltern, which was his rank twenty odd -years ago; when he came to the Front it was as -aide-de-camp of a General commanding an army -corps.</p> - -<p>In a shabby uniform and with face tanned to -the colour of old leather one now finds the Moscow -millionaire working harder than a common soldier. -Our friend had by no means confined his activities -to routine work at head-quarters, but as the St. -George’s Cross on his breast indicated, had seen -a bit of active service as well. Though he talked -freely enough on every known subject, I found -him uncommunicative on the subject of his Cross -denoting distinguished merit in the face of an -enemy. A little persistent tact, however, finally -got out of him that before Lublin, in a crisis on -the positions, he had gone to the front line trenches -in a motor car loaded with ammunition for the -troops who for lack of it were on the point of -retiring. With the return trip he brought out -all the wounded his car could hold. This, then, -was the former banker who now accompanied -us on a tour of inspection of the army of which -he was as proud as the Commanding General -himself was.</p> - -<div id="i_128" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_128.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>A Russian first-line trench near Lublin.</p> - -<p>The companion picture shows the German position through loop-hole. -</p></div> - -<div id="i_129" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_129.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>German position near Lublin.</p> - -<p>Photo taken through loop-hole in trench. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">129</span></p> -</div> - -<p>Leaving our head-quarters we drove south -through a beautiful woodland for nearly two -hours, to the headquarters of that certain division -of the army which has covered itself with glory -in the recent fighting around Opatov, where we -were received cordially by the commander. Telegrams -sent ahead had advised him of our arrival, -and he had done his part in arranging details -that our trip might be as interesting as possible. -After a few minutes drinking tea and smoking -cigarettes we again took cars and motored for -another 16 versts to the town of Opatov, where -one of the brigade head-quarters was located. -This quaint old Polish town with a castle and -a wall around it has been three times visited by -the tide of battle, and the hills about it (it lies -in a hollow) are pitted with the caves made by -the uneasy inhabitants, whose experience of -shell fire has been disturbing. One imagines -from the number of dugouts one sees that the -whole population might easily move under ground -at an hour’s notice. However, in spite of the -tumult of battles which have been fought around -it, Opatov has not been scarred by shell fire.</p> - -<p>From here we went directly west on the road -to Lagow for perhaps 5 versts, when we turned -off suddenly on to a faint road and down into -a little hollow where a tiny village nestled in -which we were told we should find the head-quarters -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">130</span> -of a certain regiment that we had come -to visit. As our cars came over the crest of -the hill we noticed assembled on a flat field, -that lay in the hollow, absolutely concealed -from the outside world, a block of troops standing -under arms. My first impression was that -this was a couple of reserve units just going -back to the trenches to relieve their fellows. -We were delighted at such a bit of luck. On -pulling up our cars by the side of the road we -found ourselves greeted by the Colonel and -staff of the regiment, to whom we were introduced -by our guide. After a few words in Russian -my friend turned, his face wreathed in smiles, -and said, “The Colonel is very kind; he has -ordered a review for your inspection.”</p> - -<p>With the staff we strolled up to the centre of the -field, where on two sides we faced two of the most -magnificent battalions of troops that it has ever -been my fortune to see, while on the third side -were parked the machine-gun batteries of the -regiment. For a few minutes we stood in the -centre of the three-sided square while the Colonel, -with unconcealed pride, told us something of -the history of the regiment that stood before -us. Its name and its corps must not be mentioned, -but it is permissible to say that it is from -Moscow and is one of the oldest regiments in -the Russian service, with traditions running -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">131</span> -back for 125 years. It is one of the two formations -of the entire Russian army which is permitted -to march in review with fixed bayonets, -a distinction acquired by 125 years of history -marked by successful work with cold steel.</p> - -<div id="i_130" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_130.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>March-past of the Gonogoriski Regiment.</p> -</div> - -<p>I have written in a previous chapter of the -fighting around Opatov and of the wonderful -work done by the troops of this army corps. -Now we learned from the Colonel that it was -his regiment that made the march over the mountain, -and fell with the bayonet upon the flank -of the 25th Austrian division with such an impetus -and fury that every man had killed or captured -a soldier of the enemy. That we might -not minimize the glory of his men the Colonel -assured us that the Austrian 25th was no scrub -Landwehr or reserve formation, but the very élite -of the élite of the Austrian army, embodying the -famous Deutschmeister regiment from Vienna, -which was supposed to be the finest organization -of infantry in the Hapsburg realm. What -we saw before us were two of the four battalions -of the Moscow regiment who were in reserve -for a few days’ rest, while their brothers in -the other two battalions were 4 versts forward -in the fighting line.</p> - -<p>Suddenly the Colonel turned about and in a -voice of thunder uttered a command, and instantly -the two thousand men became as rigid -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">132</span> -as two thousand statues. Another word, and -with the click of a bit of well-oiled mechanism, -two thousand rifles came to the present. Another -command from the Colonel and the regimental -band on the right flank, with its thirty pieces -of brass, burst forth with “Rule Britannia.” -A moment’s silence followed, and then came -the strains of the American National Anthem, -followed in turn by the Russian National Anthem.</p> - -<p>As the last strain died away there came another -sharp command from the Colonel, and once more -the mechanism clicked and two thousand guns -came to the ground as one. Then, stepping -out from the little group of the staff, the Colonel -addressed the regiment in a deep melodious -voice in words that carried to the furthest man. -I have written much of the rapidly growing feeling -of friendship and affection between England -and Russia. For six months I have noticed -a gradual development of this sentiment, but -I have never realized until this day that it was -percolating to the very foundations of the Russian -people. In Petrograd and Moscow one -naturally expects the diplomats and politicians -to emphasize this point to a member of the -press. But out at the Front these men who deal -in steel and blood are not given to fine phrases, -nor are they wont to speak for effect. For ten -months their lives have been lives of danger -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">133</span> -and hardships, and in their eyes and in their -faces one sees sincerity and truth written large -for those who study human nature to read. The -speech was to me so impressive that it seems -well worth while to quote the officer’s stirring -words, words which found an echo in the heart -of the writer, who is an American citizen and -not a British subject at all. With his hand -held aloft the Colonel said:—</p> - -<div id="i_132" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_132.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>Men of the Gonogoriski Regiment cheering King George V.</p> -</div> - -<p>“Attention,—Gentlemen, officers and soldiers: -We have to-day the honour to receive the representatives -of the great English nation, our faithful -allies now fighting with us for the good of -us all to punish our common treacherous enemy. -They are dear to our hearts because they are -conducting this war with such sacrifices and -such incredible bravery. It is a great pleasure -and privilege for our regiment to see among -us the representatives of the country where -dwell the bravest of the brave. This regiment, -beloved of Suvoroff, will always do its uttermost -to uphold the reputation of Russian arms, that -they may be worthy to fight this battle shoulder -to shoulder with their noble allies in the British -army. Officers and soldiers, I call for a hearty -cheer for the great King of England. Long live -George the Fifth.”</p> - -<p>The response came from two thousand lungs -and throats with the suddenness of a clap of -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">134</span> -thunder. Out of the misery and chaos of this -world-disaster there is surely coming a new spirit -and a new-found feeling of respect and regard between -the allied nations, a feeling which in itself -is perhaps laying the foundation of a greater -peace movement than all the harangues and -platitudes of the preachers of pacificism. Before -this war I dare say that England and the -English meant nothing to the peasant soldier -of Russia. This is no longer true, and to stand -as I stood in this hollow square and listen for -five minutes to these war-stained veterans cheering -themselves hoarse for the ally whom they -have been taught to consider the personification of -soldierly virtues, was to feel that perhaps from -this war may come future relations which the -next generation will look back upon as having -in large measure justified the price. The Colonel -raised his hand and instantly the tumult died -away. The Colonel courteously invited me to -address the Regiment on behalf of England, but -as a neutral this was an impossible role.</p> - -<div id="i_134" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_134.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>Men of the Gonogoriski Regiment.</p> -</div> - -<p>Afterwards the Colonel ordered a review of the -two battalions, and in company formation they -passed by with their bayonets at the charge -and with every eye fixed on the commander, -while every officer marched at the salute. I -have never seen a more impressive body of men. -Dirty and shabby, with faces tanned like shoe -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">135</span> -leather, and unshaven, they marched past, the -picture of men of action. In each face was -the pride of regiment and country and the -respect of self. As they passed, company after -company, the beaming Colonel said to me, “When -my men come at the charge the Austrians never -wait for them to come into the trenches. They -fire on us until we are within ten feet and then -they fall on their knees and beg for quarter.” -As the writer looked into these earnest serious -faces that passed by, each seamed with lines -of grim determination and eyes steeled with -the hardness engendered by war, he felt an increased -respect for the Austrian who waited until -the enemy were within ten feet. Somehow one -felt that a hundred feet start would be an insufficient -handicap to get away from these fellows -when they came for one with their bayonets -levelled and their leather throats howling for -the blood of the enemy.</p> - -<p>After the infantry we inspected the machine-gun -batteries of the regiment, and with special -pride the Colonel showed us the four captured -machine-guns taken from the Austrians in the -recent action, together with large quantities of -ammunition. After the machine-guns were examined, -the heroes of the St. George’s Cross, -decorated in the recent battle, were brought -forward to be photographed. Then the band -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">136</span> -played the air of the regiment, while the officers -of the regiment joined in singing a rousing melody -which has been the regimental song for the 125 -years of its existence. Then, preceded by the -band, we went to the Colonel’s head-quarters, -where lunch was served, the band playing outside -while we ate.</p> - -<p>The head-quarters of the Colonel were in a schoolhouse -hurriedly adapted to the needs of war. -Our table was the children’s blackboard taken -from the walls and stretched between two desks, -the scholars’ benches serving us in lieu of chairs. -The only thing in the whole establishment that -did not reek of the necessities of war was the -food, which was excellent. The rugged Colonel, -lean as a race horse and as tough as whipcord, -may in some former life when he was in Moscow -have been an epicure and something of a good -liver. Anyway the cooking was perfection.</p> - -<p>In conversation with a number of the men -who sat at table, I heard that their regiment -had been in thirty-four actions since the war -had started. The Colonel himself had been -wounded no less than three times in the war. -One Captain of the staff showed me a hat with -a bullet hole in the top made in the last battle; -while the Lieutenant-Colonel laughingly told -me that they could not kill him at all; though -he received seventeen bullets through his clothes -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">137</span> -since the war started he had never been scratched -in any action in which he had been engaged. -The tactical position of a Colonel in the Russian -army is in the rear, I am told, but in this -regiment I learned from one of the officers, the -Colonel rarely was in the rear, and on more -than one occasion he had led the charge at the -very head of his men. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">138</span> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_139">139</span></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">140</span></p> - -<p class="ph1">AN AFTERNOON AT THE -“POSITIONS”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">141</span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X<br /> - -<span class="large">AN AFTERNOON AT THE “POSITIONS”</span></h2> - -<p class="author"> -<span style="padding-right: 3em">Dated:</span><br /> -<span class="smcap">Somewhere in Poland</span>,<br /> -<em>June 2, 1915</em>.</p> - -<p class="drop"><span class="smcap">Provided</span> with carriages we left our -hospitable Colonel for the front trenches -4 versts further on. As we were near the Front -when we were at regimental head-quarters it -was not deemed safe to take the motor-cars -any further, on account of the clouds of dust -which they leave in their wake.</p> - -<p>The country here is spread out in great rolling -valleys with very little timber and only occasional -crests or ridges separating one beautiful -verdant stretch of landscape from another. It -struck one as quite obvious in riding over this -country that the men who planned these roads -had not taken war into consideration. Had -they done so they certainly would not have -placed them so generally along ridges, where -one’s progress can be seen from about 10 versts -in every direction. As I have mentioned in -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">142</span> -an earlier chapter, this particular army had not -fallen back on its fortified and prepared line, -but was camping out about 25 to 30 versts -in front of it in positions which were somewhat -informal. In riding through this country -one has the unpleasant sensation that every -time one shows up on a ridge, an enemy of -an observing and enterprising disposition might be -tempted to take a shot at one just for practice. -My friend the banker soldier explained, however, -that we should be difficult to hit, and anyway -he rather enjoyed shell fire. “It is a sort of -nice game,” he told me with a charming smile, -“one finds it very entertaining and not altogether -dangerous.”</p> - -<p>However his insouciance did not prevent -him taking the precaution of forbidding the use -of motor-cars with their clouds of dust, and he was -quite content that we should take the carriages, -which made less of a target on the dry roads.</p> - -<p>From regimental head-quarters we went up -into a little gulch where we again found that -we were expected, and a genial Colonel of a -howitzer battery was waiting to entertain us. -Five of our guns were sitting along the road -with their muzzled noses up in the air at an -angle of about 35 degrees waiting, waiting for -some one to give them word to shoot at something -or other. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_143">143</span></p> - -<div id="i_142" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_142.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>Howitzer battery in Poland.</p> -</div> - -<p>Batteries are always peculiarly fascinating -to me; they always appear so perfect in their -efficiency, and capable of getting work done -when required. These five were of the 4-inch -variety, with an elevation of forty-five degrees -obtainable.</p> - -<p>At a word from the Colonel they were cleared -for action and their sighting apparatus inspected -and explained. As usual they were equipped -with panorama sights, with the aiming point a -group of trees to the right and rear of the position, -and with their observation point 3 -miles away in a trench near the infantry line. -The sixth gun was doing lonely duty a mile -away in a little trench all by itself. This position -the Colonel informed us was shelled yesterday -by the enemy, who fired thirty-five 12-centimetre -shells at them without scoring a single hit. After -looking at the guns we spent an hour at tea, -and then in our carts pushed on up the valley, -where we found a regiment of Cossack cavalry -in reserve. The hundreds of horses were all -saddled and wandering about, each meandering -where its fancy led. Everywhere on the -grass and under the few clumps of brush were -sitting or sleeping the men, few of whom had -any shelter or tents of any kind, and the whole -encampment was about as informal as the encampment -of a herd of cattle. In fact the Cossacks -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">144</span> -impress one as a kind of game who have -no more need of shelter or comforts than the -deer of the forest. When they settle down for -the night they turn their horses loose, eat a bit -of ration and then sit under a tree and go to -sleep. It is all very charming and simple. Our -guide informed us that when they wanted their -horses they simply went out and whistled for -them as a mother sheep bleats for its young, -and that in a surprisingly short time every soldier -found his mount. The soldiers are devoted -to their horses, and in a dozen different places -one could see them rubbing down their mounts -or rubbing their noses and petting them.</p> - -<p>From this encampment the road went up to -its usual place on the crest of the hill. The -soldier driver of our carriage did not seem to -feel the same amount of enthusiasm about the -“nice game” of being shelled, and protested as -much as he dared about taking the horses further; -but being quietly sat upon, he subsided with a -deep sigh and started up over the ridge in the -direction of a clump of houses beyond another -rise of ground at an astonishingly rapid speed. -From the crest along which we travelled we -had a beautiful view of a gently undulating -valley lying peaceful and serene under the warm -afternoon sun. A few insects buzzing about -in the soft air near the carriage were the only -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_145">145</span> -signs of life about us. We drove up at a good -round pace to the little clump of trees which -sheltered a group of farm buildings. As we were -getting out of our carriage there was a sharp -report to the road on our right, and looking -back I saw the fleecy white puff of a shrapnel -shell breaking just over the road to the north -of us. Like the bloom of cotton the smoke hung -for an instant in the air and then slowly expanding -drifted off. A moment later, almost -in the same place, another beautiful white puff, -with its heart of copper-red, appeared over the -road, and again the sharp sound of its burst -drifted across the valley. The Austrian shrapnel -has a bit of reddish-brown smoke which must be, -I think, from the bursting charge in the shell.</p> - -<div id="i_144" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_144.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>Cossacks on the Dniester. Officers’ quarters in the woods.</p> -</div> - -<p>Our guide was quite delighted and smiled -and clicked his heels cheerfully as he ushered -us into the little room of the officer commanding -the regiment in the trenches just ahead of us. -Even as he greeted us, the telephone rang in -the little low-ceilinged room of the cottage, and -he excused himself as he went to reply to it. -In a few minutes he came back with an annoyed -expression on his face. “These unpleasant Austrians,” -he said in disgust. “They are always -up to their silly tricks. They have been shelling -some Red Cross carts on the road. I have just -ordered the howitzer battery in our rear to come -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_146">146</span> -into action and we shall see if we cannot -give them a lesson in manners.”</p> - -<p>After a few pleasantries he asked what it was -that we would most like, and I replied in my stock -phrases, “Observation points and trenches, if you -please.” He stood for a moment studying the tip -of his dusty boot; evidently he was not very eager -about the job. However, he shrugged his shoulders -and went back to the telephone, and after a -few minutes conversation came back and said -to us: “It is a very bad time to go into our -trenches, as we have no covered ways, and in the -daytime one is seen, and the enemy always begin -firing. It is very unsafe, but if you are very -anxious I shall permit one of you to go forward, -though it is not convenient. When the -enemy begin to fire, our batteries reply, and -firing starts in all the trenches. The soldiers -like to fight, and it doesn’t take much to start -them.”</p> - -<p>Put in this way none of us felt very keen -about insisting. So we all compromised by a -visit to a secondary position, which we were -told was not very dangerous, as the enemy -could only reach it with their shell fire and -“of course no one minds that,” as the officer -casually put it. We all agreed that, of course, we -did not mind that, and so trooped off with the -Colonel to the trenches and dug-outs where the -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_147">147</span> -troops who were not in the firing line were in -immediate reserve.</p> - -<p>The group of dug-outs was flanked with -trenches, for, as the Colonel informed us, “Who -knows when this position may be attacked?” -And then he added, “You see, though we are -not in the direct view of the enemy here, they -know our whereabouts and usually about this -time of day they shell the place. They can reach -it very nicely and from two different directions. -Yesterday it became so hot in our house that -we all spent a quiet afternoon in the dug-outs.” -He paused and offered us a cigarette, and as he -did so there came a deep boom from our rear -and a howitzer shell wailed over our heads on its -mission of protest to the Austrians about firing -on Red Cross wagons. A few seconds later -the muffled report of its explosion came back -across the valley. A second later another and -another shell went over our heads. The Colonel -smiled, “You see,” he said, “my orders are -being carried out. No doubt the enemy will -reply soon.”</p> - -<p>His belief was justified. A moment later that -extremely distressing sound made by an approaching -shell came to our ears, followed immediately -by its sharp report as it burst in a -field a few hundred yards away. I looked about -at the soldiers and officers around me, but not -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_148">148</span> -one even cast a glance in the direction of the -smoke drifting away over the field near by. -After wandering about his position for half or -three-quarters of an hour, we returned to the -cottage. It consisted of but three rooms. The -telephone room, a little den where the officers -ate, and a large room filled with straw on which -they slept at night, when sleeping was possible.</p> - -<p>Here we met a fine grey-haired, grizzled Colonel, -who, as my banker friend informed me, commanded -a neighbouring regiment, the — Grenadiers. He -is one of our finest officers and is in every way -worthy of his regiment, the history of which -stretches back over two centuries. The officer -himself looked tired and shabby, and his face -was deeply lined with furrows. We read about -dreadful sacrifices in the Western fighting, but -I think this regiment, which again I regret -that I cannot name, has suffered as much in -this war as any unit on any Front. In the -two weeks of fighting around Cracow alone it has -dwindled from 4,000 men to 800, and that fortnight -represented but a small fraction of the -campaigning which it has done since the war -started. Again and again it has been filled -to its full strength, and after every important -action its ranks were depleted hideously. Now -there are very few left of the original members, -but as an officer proudly said, “These regiments -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_149">149</span> -have their traditions of which their soldiers are -proud. Put a moujik in its uniform and to-morrow -he is a grenadier and proud of it.”</p> - -<p>The Colonel, who sat by the little table as we -talked, did not speak English, but in response -to the question of a friend who addressed him in -Russian, he said with a tired little smile, “Well, -yes, after ten months one is getting rather tired -of the war. One hopes it will soon be over and -that one may see one’s home and children once -more, but one wonders if——” He paused, -smiled a little, and offered us a cigarette. It is -not strange that these men who live day and -night so near the trenches that they are never -out of sound of firing, and never sleep out of the -zone of bursting shells, whose every day is associated -with friends and soldiers among the fallen, -wonder vaguely if they will ever get home. The -trench occupied by this man’s command was -so exposed that he could only reach it unobserved -by crawling on his stomach over the ridge, and -into the shallow ditch that served his troops -for shelter.</p> - -<p>Leaving the little farm we drove back over -the road above which we had seen the bursting -shells on our arrival, but our own batteries, -no doubt, had diverted the enemy from practice -on the road, for we made the 3 versts without -a single one coming our way. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_150">150</span></p> - -<p>It was closing twilight when we started back -for the head-quarters that we had left in the -early morning. The sun had set and the peace -and serenity of the evening were broken only by -the distant thunder of an occasional shell bursting -in the west. From the ridge over which our -road ran I could distinctly see the smoke from -three different burning villages fired by the -German artillery. One wonders what on earth -the enemy have in mind when they deliberately -shell these pathetic little patches of straw-thatched -peasant homes. Even in ordinary times these -people seem to have a hard life in making both -ends meet, but now in the war their lot is a most -wretched one. Apparently hardly a day passes -that some village is not burned by the long range -shells of the enemy’s guns. That such action -has any military benefit seems unlikely. The -mind of the enemy seems bent on destruction, -and everywhere their foot is placed grief -follows.</p> - -<p>The next morning for several hours I chatted -with the General and his Chief of Staff, and found, -as always at the Front, the greatest optimism. -“Have you seen our soldiers at the Front?” is -the question always asked, and when one answers -in the affirmative they say, “Well, then how -can you have any anxiety as to the future. These -men may retire a dozen times, but demoralized -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_151">151</span> -or discouraged they are never. We shall win -absolutely surely. Do not doubt it.”</p> - -<div id="i_150" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_150.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>The Polish Legion.</p> -</div> - -<p>One forms the opinion that the place for the -pessimist is at the Front. In the crises one leaves -the big cities in a cloud of gloom, and the -enthusiasm and spirit increase steadily, until in -the front trenches one finds the officers exercising -every effort to keep their men from climbing -out of their shelters and going across the way and -bayoneting the enemy. The morale of the Russian -Army as I have seen it in these last weeks is -extraordinary.</p> - -<p>We left head-quarters and motored over wretched -roads to the little town of Ilza where the quaintest -village I have seen lies in a little hollow beneath -a hill on which is perched the old ruin of a castle, -its crumbling ramparts and decaying battlements -standing silhouetted against the sky. We halted -in the village to inquire the condition of the road -to Radom, for the day we came this way the -enemy had been shelling it and the remains of -a horse scattered for 50 feet along the highway -told us that their practice was not bad at all. -We were informed that the artillery of the Germans -commanded the first 4 versts, but after that -it was safe enough. Somehow no one feels -much apprehension about artillery fire, and in -our speedy car we felt confident enough of doing -the 4 versts in sufficient haste to make the -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_152">152</span> -chance of a shot hitting us at 6,500 yards a very -slight one. As soon as we came out of the hollow, -and along the great white road which stretched -across the green fields, I saw one of the great -sausage-shaped German Zeppelins hanging menacingly -in the sky to the west of us. It was a perfectly -still day and the vessel seemed quite motionless.</p> - -<p>At the end of the 4 versts mentioned there -was a long hill, and then the road dipped out -of sight into another valley where the omniscient -eye of the German sausage could not -follow us. It was in my own mind that it -would not be unpleasant when we crossed -the ridge. We were just beginning the climb -of the hill when our own motor-car (which had -been coughing and protesting all day) gave three -huge snorts, exploded three times in the engine, -and came to a dead stop on the road, with that -indescribable expression on its snubby inanimate -nose of a car that had finished for the day. -The part of the road that we were on was as -white as chalk against the green of the hill, with -only a few skinny trees (at least they certainly -looked skinny to me) to hide us. Frantic efforts to -crank the car and get it started only resulted in a -few explosions, and minor protests from its interior.</p> - -<p>So there we sat in the blazing sun while -our extremely competent chauffeur took off -his coat and crawled under the car and did a -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_153">153</span> -lot of tinkering and hammering. He was such a -good and cool-headed individual and went about -his work so conscientiously that one did not -feel inclined to go off in the one good car and -leave him alone in his predicament. So we all -sat under the skinny tree and smoked while -we watched three shells burst on the road over -which we had just passed. I must confess to -a feeling of extreme annoyance at this particular -moment. One can feel a certain exaltation in -hustling down a road at seventy miles an hour -and being shot at, but somehow there is very -little interest in sitting out in the blazing sun on -a white road hoping that you can get your car -started before the enemy gets your range. About -the time the third shell landed on the road, our -car changed its mind and its engines suddenly -went into action with a tumult like a machine -gun battery. We climbed in our cars and the -driver threw in the clutches and our motor -made at least fifty feet in one jump and went -over the crest of the hill in a cloud of dust. The -man who sold it to me assured me that it once -did 140 versts on a race track in one hour. My -own impression is that it was doing about 150 -an hour when it cleared the ridge and the Zeppelin -was lost to sight.</p> - -<p>An hour later we were in Radom, and by midnight -back once more in Warsaw. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_154">154</span> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_155">155</span></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_156">156</span></p> - -<p class="ph1">HOW THE RUSSIANS MET THE -FIRST GAS ATTACK</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_157">157</span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI<br /> - -<span class="large">HOW THE RUSSIANS MET THE -FIRST GAS ATTACK</span></h2> - -<p class="author"> -<span style="padding-right: 3em">Dated:</span><br /> -<span class="smcap">Zyrardow, Poland</span>,<br /> -<em>June 5, 1915</em>.</p> - -<p class="drop"><span class="smcap">One</span> of the finest stories of fortitude and -heroism that the war on this front has -produced is of how the Siberian troops met the -first large scale attack upon their lines in which -the enemy made use of the gas horror, that -latest product of the ingenuity of the Germans -who boast so loudly and so continuously of -their <em>kultur</em> and the standards of civilization -and humanity which they declare it is their sacred -duty to force upon the world.</p> - -<p>There has been a lull in the fighting on this -immediate front for some time, due to the -fact that the Germans have diverted all the -troops that they could safely spare to strengthen -their concentration in Galicia. Only an occasional -spasm of fighting with bursts of artillery -firing, first in one point and then another, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_158">158</span> -have created sufficient incident to mark one -day from another. During this time the reports -of the use of poisoned gases and shells -containing deadly fumes have drifted over to this -side, and it has been expected that sooner or later -something of the same sort would be experienced -on the Bzura front. Many times we have had -shells containing formaline fumes and other -noxious poisons sent screaming over our trenches, -but their use heretofore seemed rather in the -nature of an experiment than of a serious innovation. -Enough, however, has been said about -them here, and when the effort on a wholesale -scale was made, it found our troops prepared -morally, if not yet with actual equipment in the -way of respirators.</p> - -<p>The first battle of the gases occurred early on -the morning of Sunday, the 30th of May. The -days are very long here now, and the first pale -streaks of grey were just tinging the western -horizon, when the look-outs in the Russian -trenches on the Bzura discovered signs of activity -in the trenches of the enemy which at this point -are not very far away from our lines. War -has become such an every-day business that an -impending attack creates no more excitement -in the trenches than a doctor feels when he is -called out at night to visit a patient. Word -was passed down the trenches to the sleeping -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_159">159</span> -soldiers, who at once crawled out of their shelters -and dug-outs, and rubbing their sleepy eyes -took their places at the loopholes and laid out, -ready for use, their piles of cartridge clips. The -machine gun operators uncovered their guns -and looked to them to see that all was well oiled -and working smoothly, while the officers strolled -about the trenches with words of advice and -encouragement to their men.</p> - -<p>Back in the reserve trenches the soldiers were -turning out more leisurely in response to the alarm -telephoned back. Regimental, brigade, division -and army corps head-quarters were notified, and -within ten minutes of the first sign of a movement, -the entire position threatened was on the <em>qui vive</em> -without excitement or confusion. But this was -to be no ordinary attack; while preparations -were still going forward, new symptoms never -hitherto observed, were noticeable on the German -line. Straw was thrown out beyond the trenches -and was being sprinkled with a kind of white -powder which the soldiers say resembled salt. -While the Russians were still puzzling about the -meaning of it all, fire was put to the straw in a -dozen places. Instantly from the little spots -of red flame spreading in both directions until -the line of twinkling fire was continuous, huge -clouds of fleecy white smoke rolled up. The -officers were quick to realize what was coming, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_160">160</span> -and instantly the word was passed to the soldiers -that they must be prepared to meet a new kind -of attack. After a rapid consultation and advice -from head-quarters over the telephone, it -was decided that it would be best for our men -to remain absolutely quiet in their trenches, -holding their fire until the enemy were at their -barbed wire entanglements, in order to beguile -the Germans into the belief that their gases -were effective, and that they were going to be -able to occupy the Russian trenches without -losing a man.</p> - -<p>Officers and non-commissioned officers went -through the trenches telling the soldiers what -they must expect, and imposing silence on all, -and prohibiting the firing of a gun until the -enemy were almost upon them when they were -to open up with all the rapidity of fire that -they could command. In the meantime the -wind of early morning air was rolling the cloud -gently toward the waiting Russians.</p> - -<p>I have been able through certain channels, -which I cannot at present mention, to secure a -considerable amount of information as to the -German side of this attack. When it became -known in the trenches of the enemy that these -gases were to be used, there is reason to believe -that there was a protest from the soldiers against -it. Many of the Russians are charitable enough -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_161">161</span> -to take the point of view that the common soldier -resorts to these methods because he is forced to -do so, and they say that the German private -rebelled at the idea of using so hideous a method -of conducting warfare. Others, while they accept -the story of the soldiers’ opposition, declare -they only feared the effects of the gas upon -themselves. In any event there is evidence that -their officers told them that the gas was a -harmless one, and would simply result in putting -the Russians into a state of unconsciousness -from which they would recover in a few hours, -and by that time the Germans would have been -able to take their trenches without the loss -of a man. It was at first believed that the -white powder placed on the straw was the -element of the poison gas, but it later appeared -that this was merely to produce a screen of -heavy and harmless smoke behind which the -real operations could be conducted. The actual -source of the gas was in the trenches themselves.</p> - -<p>Steel cylinders or tanks measuring a metre in -length by perhaps 6 inches in width were let in end -downwards into the floor of the trench, with -perhaps half of the tanks firmly bedded in the -ground. At the head of the cylinder was a valve, -and from this ran a lead pipe over the top of -the parapet and then bent downwards with the -opening pointed to the ground. These tanks -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_162">162</span> -were arranged in groups of batteries the unit of -which was ten or twelve, each tank being perhaps -two feet from its neighbour. Between each group -was a space of twenty paces. I have not been -able to learn the exact length of the prepared -trenches, but it was perhaps nearly a kilometre -long. As soon as their line was masked by the -volumes of the screening smoke, these taps were -turned on simultaneously and instantly the -thick greenish yellow fumes of the chloral gas -poured in expanding clouds upon the ground, -spreading like a mist upon the face of the earth.</p> - -<p>There was a drift of air in the direction of the -Russian trenches, and borne before this the poison -rolled like a wave slowly away from the German -line toward the positions of the Russians, the -gas itself seeking out and filling each small hollow -or declivity in the ground as surely as water, -so heavy and thick was its composition. When -it was fairly clear of their own line the Germans -began to move, all the men having first been -provided with respirators that they might not -experience the effects of the “harmless and painless” -gas prepared for the enemy. Ahead of -the attacking columns went groups of sappers -with shears to cut the Russian entanglements; -and behind them followed the masses of the -German infantry, while the rear was brought up, -with characteristic foresight, by soldiers bearing -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_163">163</span> -tanks of oxygen to assist any of their own men -who became unconscious from the fumes.</p> - -<p>The advance started somewhat gingerly, for the -soldiers do not seem to have had the same confidence -in the effects of the gas as their officers. But -as they moved forward there was not a sound -from the Russian trench, and the word ran up -and down the German line that there would be -no defence, and that for once they would take a -Russian position without the loss of a man. One -can fancy the state of mind of the German troops -in these few minutes. No doubt they felt that -this new “painless” gas was going to be a humane -way of ending the war, that their chemists had -solved the great problem, and that in a few days -they would be marching into Warsaw. Then -they reached the Russian entanglements, and -without warning were swept into heaps and -mounds of collapsing bodies by the torrent of -rifle and machine gun fire which came upon them -from every loophole and cranny of the Russian -position.</p> - -<p>The Russian version of the story is one that must -inspire the troops of the Allies, as it has inspired -the rest of the army over here. Some time before -the Germans actually approached, the green yellow -cloud rolled into the trenches and poured itself -in almost like a column of water; so heavy was -it that it almost fell to the floor of the trenches. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_164">164</span> -The patient Siberians stood without a tremor -as it eddied around their feet and swept over -their faces in constantly increasing volumes. -Thus for some minutes they stood wrapping hand-kerchiefs -about their faces, stifling their sounds, -and uttering not a word while dozens fell suffocating -into the trench. Then at last in the faint -morning light could be seen the shadowy figures -of the Germans through the mist; then at last -discipline and self-control were released, and -every soldier opened fire pumping out his cartridges -from his rifle as fast as he could shoot. -The stories of heroism and fortitude that one -hears from the survivors of this trench are -exceptional. One Siberian who was working -a machine gun had asked his comrade to -stand beside him with wet rags and a bucket of -water. The two bodies were found together, -the soldier collapsed over the machine gun, whose -empty cartridge belt told the story of the man’s -last effort having gone to work his gun, while -sprawling over the upset bucket was the dead -body of the friend who had stood by and made -his last task possible.</p> - -<div id="i_164" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_164.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>The colours of the Siberians.</p> -</div> - -<p>Officers in the head-quarters of regiment and -divisions tell of the operators at the telephones -clinging to their instruments until only the sounds -of their choking efforts to speak came over the -wire, and then silence. Some were found dead -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_165">165</span> -with the receivers in their hands, while others -were discovered clutching muskets fallen from -the hands of the infantry that had succumbed. -In this trying ordeal not a man, soldier or officer -budged from his position. To a man they -remained firm, some overcome, some dying, -and others already dead. So faithful were they -to their duty, that before the reserves reached -them the Germans were already extricating -themselves from their own dead and wounded, -and hurriedly beating a retreat toward their -own lines. From the rear trenches now came, -leaping with hoarse shouts of fury, the columns -of the Siberian reserves. Through the poisoned -mist that curled and circled at their feet, they ran, -many stumbling and falling from the effect of -the noxious vapours. When they reached the first -line trench, the enemy was already straggling back -in retreat, a retreat that probably cost them -more dearly than their attack; for the reserves, -maddened with fury poured over their own -trenches, pursued the Germans, and with clubbed -rifle and bayonet took heavy vengeance for -comrades poisoned and dying in the first line -trench. So furiously did the Siberians fall upon -the Germans that several positions in the German -line were occupied, numbers of the enemy -who chose to remain dying under the bayonet -or else falling on their knees with prayers for -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_166">166</span> -mercy. Somewhat to the south of the main gas -attack there came a change in the wind, and the -poisoned fumes blew back into the trenches of -the Germans, trenches in which it is believed the -occupants were not equipped with respirators. -The Russians in opposite lines say that the cries -of the Germans attacked by their own fumes -were something horrible to listen to, and their -shrieks could have been heard half a mile away.</p> - -<p>Thus ended the first German effort to turn -the Russians out of their positions by the use -of a method which their rulers had pledged -themselves in treaty never to adopt. The net -results were an absolute defeat of the Germans, -with the loss of several of their own positions, -and a loss in dead and wounded probably three -times greater than was suffered by the Russians. -Even although it was unexpected and unprepared -for, this first attempt was an absolute failure; -the only result being an increase of fury on the -part of the Russian soldiers that makes it difficult -to keep them in their trenches, so eager are they -to go over and bayonet their enemies. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_167">167</span></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_168">168</span></p> - -<p class="ph1">SOME DETAILS REGARDING THE -GAS HORROR</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_169">169</span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII<br /> - -<span class="large">SOME DETAILS REGARDING THE -GAS HORROR</span></h2> - -<p class="author"> -<span class="smcap">Warsaw</span>,<br /> -<em>June 8</em>.<br /> -</p> - -<p class="drop"><span class="smcap">Ever</span> since my return from the southern -armies last week I have spent practically -my entire time in the study and investigation -of the newest phase of frightfulness as practised -by the German authorities. Ten months of -war and an earlier experience in Manchuria -of what misery it represents even when conducted -in the most humane way have not -tended to make me over-sensitive to the sights -and sufferings which are the inevitable accompaniment -of the conflict between modern -armies; but what I have seen in the last week -has impressed me more deeply than the sum -total of all the other horrors which I have seen -in this and other campaigns combined. The -effects of the new war methods involve hideous -suffering and are of no military value whatsoever -(if results on this front are typical); while they -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_170">170</span> -reduce war to a barbarity and cruelty which -could not be justified from any point of view, -even were the results obtained for the cause of -the user a thousandfold greater than they have -proved to be.</p> - -<p>I found on my return from the south the -whole of Warsaw in a fever of riotous indignation -against the Germans and the German people -as the result of the arrival of the first block of -gas victims brought in from the Bzura front. -I have already described the attack made on -the Russian position, its absolute failure, and the -result it had of increasing the morale of the -Russian troops. I must now try to convey to -the reader an idea of the effects which I have -personally witnessed and ascertained by first -hand investigation of the whole subject. The -investigation has taken me from the Warsaw -hospitals, down through the various army, corps, -division and regimental head-quarters, to the -advance trenches on which the attack was actually -made. I have talked with every one possible, -from generals to privates, and from surgeons to -the nurses, and to the victims themselves, and -feel, therefore, that I can write with a fair degree -of authority.</p> - -<p>The gas itself, I was told at the front, was -almost pure chloral fumes; but in the hospitals -here they informed me that there were -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_171">171</span> -indications of the presence of a small trace of -bromine, though it has proved somewhat difficult -to make an exact analysis. The effect of the -gas when inhaled is to cause an immediate and -extremely painful irritation of the lungs and the -bronchial tubes, which causes instantly acute -suffering. The gas, on reaching the lungs, and -coming in contact with the blood, at once causes -congestion, and clots begin to form not only in -the lungs themselves but in the blood-vessels -and larger arteries, while the blood itself becomes -so thick that it is with great difficulty that the -heart is able to force it through the veins. The -first effects, then, are those of strangulation, pains -throughout the body where clots are forming, -and the additional misery of the irritation which -the acid gases cause to all the mucous membranes -to which it is exposed. Some of the -fatal cases were examined by the surgeons on -the post-mortem table, and it was found that -the lungs were so choked with coagulated blood -that, as one doctor at the front told me, they -resembled huge slabs of raw liver rather than -lungs at all. The heart was badly strained -from the endeavour to exert its functions against -such obstacles, and death had resulted from -strangulation.</p> - -<p>Though the unfortunates who succumbed -suffered hideously, their lot was an easy one -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_172">172</span> -compared to the lot of the miserable wretches -who lingered on and died later. One might -almost say that even those that are recovering -have suffered so excruciatingly as to make -life dear at the price. Those who could -be treated promptly have for the most part -struggled back to life. Time only will show -whether they recover entirely, but from evidence -obtained, I am inclined to believe many of them -will be restored to a moderate condition of good -health after their lungs are healed. The first -treatment employed by the Russians when their -patients come to the hospitals, is to strip them -of all clothing, give them a hot bath and put -them into clean garments. This is done for the -protection of the nurses as well as of the victims, -for it was found that many of the helpers were -overcome by the residue of the fumes left in -the clothing, so deadly was the nature of the -chemical compound used.</p> - -<p>Even after these cases were brought to -Warsaw and put into clean linen pyjamas -and immaculate beds, the gas still given out -from their lungs as they exhaled so poisoned -the air in the hospital that some of the women -nurses were affected with severe headaches and -with nausea. From this it may be gathered that -the potency of the chloral compound is extremely -deadly. The incredible part is, that out of the -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_173">173</span> -thousands affected, hardly a thousand died in -the trenches, and of the 1,300 to 1,500 brought -to Warsaw, only 2 per cent. have died to date. -It is probably true that the Russian moujik -soldier is the hardiest individual in Europe; -add to this the consideration that for ten months -none of them have been touching alcohol, -which is probably one reason for their astonishing -vitality in fighting this deadly poison and -struggling back to life.</p> - -<div id="i_172a" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_172a.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>Respirator drill in the trenches.</p> -</div> - -<div id="i_172b" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_172b.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>Austrians leaving Przemysl.</p> -</div> - -<p>After the victims are washed, every effort is -made to relieve the congestion. Mustard plasters -are applied to the feet, while camphor injections -are given hypodermically, and caffeine or, in -desperate cases, digitalis is given to help the -heart keep up its task against the heavy odds. -Next blood is drawn from the patient and -quantities of salt and water injected in the veins -to take its place and to dilute what remains. In -the severer cases I am told that the blood even -from the arteries barely flows, and comes out -a deep purple and almost as viscous as molasses. -In the far-gone cases it refuses to flow at all.</p> - -<p>The victims that die quickly are spared the -worst effects, but those that linger on and finally -succumb suffer a torture which the days of the -Inquisition can hardly parallel. Many of them -have in their efforts to breathe swallowed quantities -of the gas, and in these cases, which seem to -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_174">174</span> -be common, post-mortems disclose the fact that -great patches in their stomachs and in their -intestines have been eaten almost raw by the -action of the acid in the gas. These men then -die not only of strangulation, which, in itself, is a -slow torture, but in their last moments their -internal organs are slowly being eaten away by -the acids which they have taken into their -stomachs. Several of the doctors have told -me that in these instances the men go violently -mad from sheer agony, and that many of them -must be held in their beds by force to prevent -them from leaping out of the windows or running -amok in the hospitals. It is hard to still them -with sufficient morphine to deaden the pain -without giving an overdose, with the result that -many of the poor fellows probably suffer until -their last gasp.</p> - -<p>This then is the physical effect which is -produced on the victims of Germany’s latest -device to win the war. I have been in many -of the hospitals, and I have never in my life -been more deeply moved than by the pathetic -spectacle of these magnificent specimens of -manhood lying on their beds writhing in pain -or gasping for breath, each struggle being a -torture. The Russians endure suffering with a -stoicism that is heartbreaking to observe, and I -think it would surely touch even the most -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_175">175</span> -cynical German chemist were he to see his -victims, purple in the face, lips frothed with -red from bleeding lungs, with head thrown back -and teeth clenched to keep back the groans -of anguish, as they struggle against the subtle -poison that has been taken into their system. -One poor fellow said to the nurse as she sat by -his bed and held his hand, “Oh, if the German -Kaiser could but suffer the pain that I do he -would never inflict this torture upon us. Surely -there must be a horrible place prepared for him -in the hereafter.”</p> - -<p>The effect upon the troops at the front who -have seen the sufferings of their fellows or -who have had a touch of it themselves, has -been quite extraordinary. Some of the more -cynical say that the German idea involved this -suffering as a part of their campaign of frightfulness, -their belief being that it would strike -panic to the hearts of all the soldiers that beheld -it and result in the utter demoralization of the -Russian Army. If this be true the German -psychologists never made a more stupid blunder, -for in this single night’s work they have built up -for themselves in the heart of every Russian -moujik a personal hatred and detestation that -has spread like wildfire in all parts of the army -and has made the Russian troops infinitely -fiercer both in attack and in defence than at -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_176">176</span> -any other period in the war. Not a soldier or -officer with whom I have talked has shown the -smallest sign of fear for the future, and all are -praying for an opportunity to exact a vengeance.</p> - -<p>Unfortunately in the next attacks in which -this just fury will be in evidence, it will be the -unfortunate German soldier who must pay the -price at the point of the bayonet, while the cold-blooded -wretches who worked it all out will -go scot free from the retribution which the Russians -intend to administer with cold steel and -the butt end of their muskets. In the meantime -the Russians have taken steps which will in all -probability render future attacks practically -innocuous. Every soldier is receiving a respirator, -a small mask soaked in some chemical -preparation and done up in an air-tight packet -ready for use. The preparation, it is believed, -will keep out the fumes for at least an hour. It -is highly improbable that any such period will -elapse before the gases are dissipated by the -wind; but in any event extra quantities of the -solution will be kept in the trenches to enable -the soldiers to freshen their masks if the gases -are not cleared up within an hour.</p> - -<p>In addition to this, open ditches will be dug -in the trenches and filled with water, which -will promptly suck up the gas that would -otherwise linger on indefinitely. It is also -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_177">177</span> -proposed to strew straw in front of the positions -and to sprinkle it with water before an -attack with the gases in order to take up as -much of the poison as possible before it reaches -the trenches at all. When one remembers that -though the first attack came without any preparations -being made to meet it, and was an -absolutely new experience to the Russians, it -yet failed overwhelmingly, I think one need -feel no anxiety as to the results which will -follow the next attack when every preparation -has been made by the Russians to receive -it.</p> - -<p>I have dwelt at some length on the subject of -the poisoned gases, but as there is available -evidence to indicate that the Germans are planning -to make this an important feature of their -campaign, it seems worth while to bring before -the attention of the outside world all of the consequences -which the use of this practice involve. -I hear now from excellent sources that the -Germans are equipping a large plant at Plonsk -for the express purpose of making poison gases -on a large scale. In what I have written before -I have only mentioned the bearing of the -gas on strictly military operations, but there -is another consideration to be noticed in this -new practice, and that is the effect which -it has, and will have increasingly, upon the -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_178">178</span> -unfortunate peasant and civil population whose -miserable fate it is to live behind the lines.</p> - -<p>I am not aware of the nature and potency -of the gas used in the West, but I read recently -in the paper that it was so deadly that its -effects were observable a full mile from the -line of battle. Over here they were noticeable -25 miles from the line, and individuals -were overcome as far away as 14 versts -from the positions. The General commanding -the — Siberian Corps told me that the sentry -before his gate fell to the ground from inhaling -the poisoned air, though his head-quarters is -more than 10 miles away from the point where -the Germans turned loose their fiendish invention. -The General commanding the —th Division of -this same Siberian Corps, against whom the attack -was made, told me that the gases reached his -head-quarters exactly 1½ hours after it passed -the positions which he told me were between -5 and 6 versts from the house in which he -lived. In the morning the fumes lay like a -mist on the grass, and later in the day they were -felt with sufficient potency to cause nausea and -headaches at Grodisk, 30 versts from the trenches. -Everywhere I was told of the suffering and panic -among the peasants, who came staggering in -from every direction to the Russian Red Cross -stations and head-quarters. These, of course, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_179">179</span> -were not as severely stricken as the troops in -the front lines, and as far as I know none of them -have died, but hundreds were being cared for -by the Russian authorities, and among these I -am told were many women and children.</p> - -<div id="i_178" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_178.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>Siberians returning from the trenches.</p> -</div> - -<p>In fact it is but logical to expect the greatest -suffering in the future to be among children, -for the gas hangs very low, and where a six foot -man might keep his nose clear of the fumes, a -child of two or three years old would be almost -sure to perish. The live stock suffered more or -less, but there seems to have been a great difference -in the effects of the gases upon different kinds of -animals. Horses were driven almost frantic, -cows felt it much less, and pigs are said not to -have been bothered appreciably. In its effects -on plants and flowers one notices a great range of -results among different varieties. Pansies were -slightly wilted, snapdragons absolutely, while -certain little blue flowers whose name I do not -know were scarcely affected at all. Some of -the tips of the grasses were coloured brown, -while leaves on some trees were completely -destitute of any colour at all. I cannot explain -the varying effects. I have in my pocket a leaf -two-thirds of which is as white as a piece of writing -paper while the remaining third is as green as -grass. On the same tree some leaves were killed -and others not affected at all. The effects also -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_180">180</span> -vary greatly in different parts of the country. -From what I could observe the gas had flowed -to all the low places where it hung for hours. -In the woods it is said to have drifted about with -bad effects that lasted for several days.</p> - -<p>What I have described above is the first effect -on the country, but if the Germans are to continue -this practice for the rest of the summer I think -there must be effects which in the end will result -in far more injury to the peasants who are not -prepared, than to the soldiers who are taught -how to combat the gases. In the first place it -seems extremely probable that this gas flowing -to the low places will almost invariably settle -in the lakes, marshes and all bodies of still -water within 20 to 30 versts of the line. I am -not sufficiently well grounded in chemistry to -speak authoritatively, but it seems not improbable -that the effect of this will be gradually to transform -every small body of water in this vicinity -into a diluted solution of hydrochloric acid, a -solution which will become more and more -concentrated with every wave of gas that passes -over the country-side. If this be the case -Poland may perhaps see huge numbers of its -horses, cows and other live stock slowly poisoned -by chloral while the inhabitants may experience -a similar fate. With wet weather and moist -soil will come a period when the chloral will go -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_181">181</span> -into the earth in large quantities. I do not know -what effect this will have on the future of the -crops, but I imagine that it will not help the -harvest this year, while its deleterious effects -may extend over many to come. In other -words it seems as though the Germans in order -to inflict a possible military damage on the -Russians are planning a campaign, the terrible -effects of which will fall for the most part not -on the soldiers at all but on the harmless non-combatants -who live in the rear of the lines. -This practice is as absolutely unjustifiable as that -of setting floating mines loose at sea on the -possible chance of sinking an enemy ship, the -probability being ten to one that the victim -will prove an innocent one.</p> - -<p>We are now facing over here, and I suppose -in the West as well, a campaign of poisoned air, -the effect of which upon the military situation -will be neutralized by reprisals; but at the same -time this campaign is going to increase the suffering -and misery of the soldiers a hundred per cent., -and in its ultimate results bring more misery to -the populations in the various regions near the -lines than has ever been experienced in any -previous war. It must be reasonably clear to -the Germans by now that their scheme to terrorize -has failed, and that their aim of inflicting vast -damage has fallen to the ground. When reprisals -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_182">182</span> -come, as they must if Germany continues this -inhuman policy, she will, without having gained -anything whatsoever from her experiment, cause -needlessly the deaths of thousands of her own -soldiers, as well as suffering and devastation -among the rural classes. It does seem as though, -when the German policy is so clearly unfruitful, -it should be possible through the medium of some -neutral country to reach an agreement providing -for the entire discontinuance on all fronts of -this horrible practice. Certainly, when there -are so many thousands of innocents who must -suffer by its continuance, it would be well worth -the while of the authorities in the different countries -to consider the possibility mentioned before -resorting to the use of this deadly weapon, which -often proves as dangerous to the users as to the -enemy against whom it is directed. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_183">183</span></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_184">184</span></p> - -<p class="ph1">THE BZURA FRONT IN JUNE</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_185">185</span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII<br /> - -<span class="large">THE BZURA FRONT IN JUNE</span></h2> - -<p class="author"> -Dated:<br /> -<span class="smcap">Warsaw</span>,<br /> -<em>June 9</em>.</p> - -<p class="drop"><span class="smcap">Some</span> one has said that there is nothing -more monotonous than war. After ten -months of almost continuous contact with its -various phenomena, and week after week spent -in the same atmosphere, where one is always -surrounded by the same types of men in the -same uniforms, the same transport, the same -guns, the same Red Cross, and in fact everything -the same in general appearance, it becomes very -difficult to get up new interest in the surroundings, -and that deadly monotony of even the happenings -makes it increasingly difficult to write -about it. The types of country vary here and -trenches are not after one pattern, but after one -has seen a few dozen even of these there is a -good deal of sameness in it all. I have not -been on the Bzura Front, however, since January, -and as little has been written about it by -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_186">186</span> -any one else since the big January-February -attacks on the Bolimov positions, it may be -worth devoting a short chapter to it, describing -its appearance in summer.</p> - -<p>The last time that I was out here was in January, -when the ground was deep in snow and -slush, and the soldiers muffled to their ears to -keep out the biting winds that swept across the -country. Now the whole army, that is not fighting -or otherwise occupied, is luxuriously basking -in the sunshine, or idling under the shade -of the trees. The poisonous gas campaigns, of -which I have already written at length, having -been started on our Bzura line, seemed to justify -a visit to the positions here in order that I might -speak with some degree of accuracy as to the -effects of this newest German method of warfare, -from the trenches, where the attacks were made, -down through the varying stages to the last, -where one found the victims struggling for breath -in the Warsaw hospitals.</p> - -<p>Leaving Warsaw early in the morning I went -to the head-quarters of the army immediately -before Warsaw, and on explaining my desires, -every possible means of assistance was placed -at my disposal including an extra automobile -and an officer interpreter. From the army head-quarters -we sped over a newly-built road to -the head-quarters of that army corps which is -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_187">187</span> -defending the line of the Rawka, where the -chief medical officer obligingly placed at my -disposal all the information which he possessed -of the General commanding that particular -Siberian army corps on whom the experiment -was first tried. This man, an officer of high -rank, was living in a small white cottage standing -by the side of a second rate country road, -without a single tree to protect it from the -rays of the sun which in the afternoon was -beating down on it with a heat that could be -seen as it shimmered up from the baking earth, -barren of grass or any green thing. Here was -a man, commanding perhaps 40,000 troops, living -in one of the bleakest spots I have seen in Poland, -with nothing but a tiny head-quarters flag and -dozens of telephone wires running in from all -directions to denote that he was directing a -command greater than a battalion.</p> - -<p>As the greatest indignation prevails throughout -the army on the gas subject, I found the officers -here very eager to help me in my investigations, -and the General immediately telephoned -to the division head-quarters that we would visit -them and asked that an officer might be provided -to take us forward to the positions where -the heaviest losses occurred. So once more we -took to our motor car, and for another 6 versts, -across fields and down avenues of trees, we sped -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_188">188</span> -until at last we turned off sharply into the country -estate of some landed proprietor where were -living the staff of the —th division. These fortunate -men were much better off than their commander, -for in a lovely villa, with a lake shimmering -like a sheet of silver in the sunlight behind the -terrace on which the officers could have their coffee -in the evenings, the General and his suite lived. -A delightful little Captain, who seemed to be in -charge of our programme, led us to a window and -pointing to a windmill in an adjacent field remarked: -“The German artillery reaches just to -that point. From the time you leave there -until you reach the trenches you will be continually -within the range of their guns and for -most of the time within plain sight of their observers -in their gun positions. However, if you -insist we shall be glad to let you go. Probably -they will not fire on you, and if they do I think -they will not hit you. An automobile is a difficult -target.”</p> - -<p>With this doubtful assurance we started out -again, this time heading for regimental head-quarters, -which we were told was a mile behind the -trenches. A few miles further, and we came on -several battalions in reserve near a little village. -A small orchard here gave them shelter from observation, -and after their trying ordeal a few days -before, they were resting luxuriously on the grass, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_189">189</span> -many of them lying flat on their backs in the -shade fast asleep while everywhere were piled -their rifles. These sturdy self-respecting Siberian -troops are the cream of the army and physically -as fine specimens of manhood as I have -ever seen anywhere. From this point we turned -sharply west and ran at top speed down an -avenue of trees to a little bridge, where we -left the car effectively concealed behind a clump -of trees. At least that was the intention, and -one in which the chauffeur and his orderly companion -took great interest as one could see by -the careful scrutiny that they gave the landscape -and then their cover.</p> - -<p>Personally I think this is the meanest country -to get about in during the day time that I can -possibly imagine. It is almost as flat as a billiard -table, and I am of the opinion that if you lay down -in the road you could see a black pin sticking -up in it a mile away. Everything around you -is as still as death for perhaps ten minutes. The -sun shines, butterflies flit about and an occasional -bee goes droning past. There is nothing -whatever to suggest the possibility of war. -You think it is a mistake and that you are -at least twenty miles from the Front; then -you hear a deep detonation not far away and a -great smoking crater in a field near by indicates -where a heavy shell has burst. Again there -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_190">190</span> -is absolute silence for perhaps twenty minutes, -when a sharp report not far away causes you -to look quickly toward a grove of trees in a neighbouring -field where you discover one of the Russian -batteries. Leaving our motor we walk across -a field and approach the site of a destroyed village, -if a cluster of six or eight little cottages could -ever have been dignified by that name. Now only -a chimney here, or a few walls there, indicates -where once stood this little group of homes. -In one of the ruins, like a dog in an ash-heap, -lives the Colonel of the —th Siberian with his -staff. Behind a wall left standing is a table -and a few chairs, and dug out of the corner is -a bomb proof where converge telephones from -the trenches in which are his troops. Here -he has been living since the middle of last -January.</p> - -<p>The village was destroyed months and months -ago, and clearly as it is in the line of German -observation it seems to provide a comparatively -safe retreat for the officers, though as one of -them remarked quite casually, “They dropped -thirty-five shells round us yesterday, but you -see nothing much came of it.” Absolute indifference -to these situations is the keynote at -the Front, and good form makes one refrain -from asking the numerous questions as to the -exact location of the enemy, whether or not -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_191">191</span> -they can see us, and other subjects which, at -the moment, seem to us of first-class importance. -However, we realize that good -taste requires that we assume the same casual -attitude, and so we sit for half an hour, -smoke cigarettes and quietly hope that the -enemy will choose some other target than this -for their afternoon practice which, as one of -the officers remarked, “Usually begins about -this hour in the afternoon.”</p> - -<p>Personally I hate poking around in the broad -daylight in this flat country, but as I wanted -to see the position where the gas was used -and did not want to wait until night, and as -the Colonel was perfectly agreeable, I suggested -that we should proceed forthwith to -the positions. Before starting we were told -that up to a few weeks ago no one ever used -the road in the daytime, because of its exposure -to rifle and artillery fire. “But now,” -as the Colonel said, “for some reason or other -they are not shooting at individuals. Probably -they are saving their ammunition for Galicia. -So if we walk apart we shall not be in -much danger. Anyway a man or two would be -hard to hit with rifle fire, and their artillery is -rather poor here, and even if they fire at us I -think we shall not be killed.” We thanked him -for his optimism and all started off down the -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_192">192</span> -road that led to the positions. In view of his -suggestion about individuals being safe, I was -not particularly happy when five officers who -had nothing else to do joined us. The first -half mile of the road led down an avenue of -trees which effectively screened us. After that -the trees stopped and the great white road, -elevated about 5 feet above the surrounding -country, impressed me as being the most conspicuous -topographical feature that I had seen -in Poland. There was not a bit of brush as -big as a tooth-pick to conceal our party walking -serenely down the highway.</p> - -<p>After we had got about 200 yards on this causeway -the Colonel stopped and pointed with his -stick at a group of red brick buildings. “The -Germans were there,” translated the interpreter. -“My,” I ejaculated in enthusiasm at the idea -that they had gone, “when did we retake the -position?” “Oh,” replied the interpreter officer, -“not yet. They are still there.” “Ah!” I -said, lighting a cigarette, that my interest might -not seem too acute, “I should think they could -see us.” The linguist spoke a few words to the -Colonel and then replied, “Oh, yes, every move -we make, but the Colonel thinks they will not -shoot.” I looked over at the brick buildings, -behind which were the German artillery positions, -and I could swear they were not 2,000 -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_193">193</span> -yards away, while a line of dirt nearer still -showed the infantry trenches. For myself I felt -as large as an elephant, and to my eyes our party -seemed as conspicuous as Barnum’s circus on -parade. However we continued our afternoon -stroll to the reserve trenches, where a soldier or -two joined our group. Five or six hundred -yards up the road was the barricade thrown -across, held by the first line. An occasional -crack of a rifle reminded us that the look-outs -in our trenches were studying the movements -in the German trenches a few hundred -yards beyond. Finally we left the road and -came over a field and into the rear of our own -position, and to the scene of the German gas -attacks four or five days before.</p> - -<p>Life in the trenches has become such an -everyday affair to these sunburned, brawny -soldiers from Siberia that they seem to have -no more feeling of anxiety than if they were -living in their own villages far, far to the East. -In spite of the fact that they have steadily -borne the brunt of terrible attacks, and even -now are under the shadow of the opposing -lines, which are thoroughly equipped with the -mechanism for dispensing poisoned air, they are -as gay and cheerful as schoolboys on a vacation. -I have never seen such healthy, high-spirited -soldiers in my life. The trenches have -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_194">194</span> -been so cleaned up that a house wife could find -no fault with them.</p> - -<p>These homes of the soldiers have every appearance -of being swept daily. The apprehension -felt in the winter of hygienic conditions when -the spring came have no ground whatever, and -I am told on the very highest authority that -in this army the sickness, other than that coming -from wounds, is less than for the months -that preceded the war itself. The Colonel explained -to us the use of the respirators with -which every soldier is provided, and for our benefit -had one of the soldiers fitted with one that -he might be photographed to illustrate for the -West what sort of protection is being supplied -to the men on this side. After spending half -to three-quarters of an hour wandering about -in the trenches and meeting the officers who live -there we returned to the regimental head-quarters. -The sun was just setting, and as we strolled -back over the open causeway in its last red glow -a great German battery suddenly came into -action somewhere off to the west and north of us, -and we could hear the heavy detonations of its -huge shells falling in a nearby wood.</p> - -<p>When we got back to the regimental head-quarters -I could see their target, which seemed to be nothing -more than a big field. Every few minutes an -enormous shell would drop in the meadow. For -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_195">195</span> -an instant there would be but a little dust where -it hit the ground, then suddenly a great spout -of earth and dust and volumes of dirty brown -smoke would leap into the air like the eruption -of a volcano, and then the heavy sound of the -explosion would reach our ears, while for two -or three minutes the crater would smoke as -though the earth itself were being consumed by -hidden fires. As it was coming late we did not -linger long at the head-quarters but took to our -car and sped up the avenue of trees which lay -directly parallel to the point where the shells -were bursting. The sun had set now, and in the -after glow we passed once more the camps of -the reserves squatting about their little twinkling -fires built in the earth to mask them from -the sight of the enemy. In half an hour we were -back once more in the villa of the General of -the division, an enormous man of six feet three, -whose cross of St. George of the first class was -given for a heroic record in Manchuria where the -General, then a Colonel, was three times wounded -by Japanese bullets. Sitting on his terrace he -gave us more details in regard to the usages of -the gas against his troops. Though they were -6 versts from the Front, everyone in his head-quarters -had been affected with nausea and headaches, -so potent were the fumes of the chloral -that for hours lay like a miasmic mist in the -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_196">196</span> -grounds and garden of the estate. The General, -who is a very kindly giant, shook his head sadly -as he spoke of the Germans. I think the Russians -are a very charitable people and nearly -all the men with whom I have talked lay the -blame of this outrage on civilization against the -authorities and not against the men, who, they -understand, are bitterly opposed to its use. When -I asked the General what he thought of the -German point of view of war, he sat for a few -moments looking out over the lovely garden -with the little lake that lay before us.</p> - -<p>“They have an extraordinary point of view,” -he said at last. Then he rose quickly from his -chair and brought from a corner of the balcony -a belt captured in some skirmish of the morning. -He held it up for me to see the big buckle and -with his finger pointed to the words: “<span class="smcap">Gott -Mit Uns</span>.” Then with a smile more significant -than words he tossed it back into the corner. -Yes, truly, the German point of view is an -extraordinary one. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_197">197</span></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_198">198</span></p> - -<p class="ph1">THE GALICIAN FRONT</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_199">199</span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV<br /> - -<span class="large">THE GALICIAN FRONT</span></h2> - -<p class="author"> -Dated:<br /> -<span class="smcap">Rovna</span>,<br /> -<em>June 26, 1915</em>.</p> - -<p class="drop"><span class="smcap">In</span> a few weeks a year will have passed since -the Imperial German Government began -issuing its series of declarations of war against -one country after another—declarations which -as time elapses are assuming the aspect of hostilities -not only against individual countries, but -against practically all that modern civilization -had come to represent. During that time -each of the Allies, and all of the world besides, -have been studying the geography of -Europe and the armies engaged in the great conflict. -Of all these countries and of all these -armies, I think that the least known and the -least understood are the country and the army -of Russia.</p> - -<p>It has been my fortune to be with the Russians -since last September, during which time I have -travelled thousands of versts both in Poland -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_200">200</span> -and in Galicia. I have visited eight out of their -eleven active armies, and been on the positions -in most of them, and it is not an exaggeration -to say that I have met and talked with between -five hundred and a thousand officers. Yet I -feel that I am only now beginning to realize -what this war means to Russia, and the temper -that it has slowly but surely developed in her -armies and in her peoples. Never I think have -the stamina and the temper of a country been -more fiercely tested than have those of Russia -during the campaign which has been going on -in Galicia since May last. All the world realizes -in a general way what the Russians had to contend -with, and all the world knows vaguely that -Russia has a front of 1,200 versts to protect, -and appreciates in an indefinite kind of way -that such a line must be difficult to hold. But -though I have been here for eleven months, I -never formed any adequate conception of how -great was this problem until I undertook to cover -the Front, from its far fringe in Bukovina to its -centre on the Warsaw Front.</p> - -<p>During the past two months it has been all -but impossible to follow movements with any -clear understanding of their significance. We -have all known that the Russians were retiring -from position after position before overwhelming -attacks of the enemy; and with very few exceptions, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_201">201</span> -the world has concluded, and the enemy -certainly has, that flying before the phalanx -of the Austro-German legions with their thousands -of massed guns, fed with clockwork regularity -with munitions and supplies brought up by -their superb railway systems, was the wrecked -and defeated Russian Army, an organization that -it would take months of rest and recuperation -to lick into the shape of a virile fighting force once -more. I have never shared this opinion myself, -for we who were in Manchuria ten years ago -learned to know that though it was quite possible -to drive the Russians off the field, it was equally -impossible to destroy their <em>moral</em> or break their -spirits. A month after Lio Yang the supposedly -defeated Russians took the offensive at Sha Ho -and came a cropper. Again in January another -offensive was developed and failed. They were -ready once more at Moukden and lost badly. -By September had peace not intervened they -would have fought again. Even the Japanese -were beginning to feel the discouragement of -the Russian persistency in refusing to accept -defeat as final. The Manchurian campaign was -unpopular, not in the least understood, and yet -the Russian moujik hung on and on month after -month. The Japanese knew their mettle and -admitted it freely.</p> - -<p>For a year now we have had the Russians -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_202">202</span> -again at war. But this time the situation is -quite different. The war touched the slow -lethargic rather negative Russian temperament -from the start, by its appeal to their race sympathies, -which is the one vital chord that can -always be touched with a certainty of response, -in the heart of every Slav. From the first month, -the popularity of the war has grown steadily, -until to-day it has the backing of the entire -Russian people, barring isolated groups of intriguers -and cliques controlled and influenced by -German blood. I have talked with officers -from every part of this Empire, and they all -tell me that it is the same in Siberia as it is -in European Russia. The moujik in his heavy, -ponderous way is behind this war. No matter -what pessimism one hears in Petrograd or Warsaw, -one can always find consolation as to the -ultimate outcome by going to the common people, -those who patiently and stoically are bearing -the burden. This is the strength of Russia and -this is why Russia and the Russian Armies are -not beaten in Galicia, are not discouraged and -have not the vaguest idea of a peace without a -decision any more than the Englishman, the -Frenchman or the Belgian.</p> - -<p>In so vast a theatre as this, it is utterly impossible -to form clear and definite opinions as -to what has taken place even in the past year, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_203">203</span> -and it may be imagined with what difficulty -one can predict the future. But there is one -thing in war that is greater than an advance or -a retreat, greater than a dozen battles, and -greater than the speculations of experts, and that -thing is the temper and stamina of the men and -the people who are fighting the war. Given -that and one can look with comparative equanimity -upon the ups and downs of the vast tactical -and strategical problems which develop now in -East Prussia, now in Poland and again in Galicia. -There was one great strategic aim of the Germans -in their Galician movement, and that was to -crush the Russian Army, hand back to Austria -her lost province, and then hurry back to the west -to attack England and France. It is true that -Germany has driven the Russians from position -after position; it is true that she has given -back Lwow to the unenthusiastic Austrians, -who with trembling hands accepted it back as a -dangerous gift, and it is true that the world -looks upon the recapture of Galicia as a great -moral blow to the Russian arms. Thus far has -Germany achieved her ends. But she has not -destroyed the army, she has not discouraged the -troops, and with the exception of one army, now -repaired, she did not even seriously cripple it.</p> - -<p>The plain facts are, that by a preponderance -of war munitions which Russia could not equal, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_204">204</span> -supplied over lines of communication which Russia -could not duplicate, Germany forced Russian withdrawals -before her, for men cannot fight modern -battles with their fists. The glory of the German -advance will be dimmed when the world really -knows exactly what Russia had in men and in -arms and munitions to meet this assault, the -greatest perhaps that has ever been made in military -history. Indeed the surprise of the writer is -not that the Germans won but that they did not -crush the army before them. This retreat from -the Dunajec will form a brilliant page in Russia’s -history, and an object lesson to the whole world -of what a stubborn army composed of courageous -hearts can do by almost sheer bravery alone. The -Russians have come through their trial by fire. -Barring one army they have probably suffered -far less in personnel than the loss they have -inflicted on their enemy. They have reached, -or approximately reached, another point of -defence. Their spirits are good, their confidence -unshaken, and their determination to fight on -indefinitely, regardless of defeats, is greater than -it ever was before.</p> - -<p>The Germans have failed in their greatest aim—as -the case stands to-day. One cannot doubt -that the high authorities in Berlin must realize -this truth as surely as the military brains do -on this side of the line. The Germans have -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_205">205</span> -shot their first bolt, a bolt forged from every -resource in men and munitions that they could -muster after months of preparation. The Russians -have recoiled before it and may recoil -again and again, but they always manage to -prevent it from accomplishing its aim. At the -moment of writing Germany faces the identical -problem that she did two months ago, excepting -that she now occupies extra territory, for the -most part in ruins. The problem before her -is to repeat the Galician enterprise on an army -infinitely better than the one she broke in May. -If she can do this she will have the identical -problem to meet on some other line in another -two months, and after that another and another. -It is simply a question of how much time, men -and resources Germany has to spend on these -costly victories, if indeed the next proves a -victory, which is doubtful. She may do it once, -she may do it twice, but whenever it may be there -will come a time when she can do it no more, -and when that time comes Russia will slowly, -surely, inexorably come back, step by step, until -she has regained her own, her early conquests, -and has Germany on her knees in the East. -It is futile to speculate as to time. It may be -months and it may be years. But it is most -surely coming eventually. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_206">206</span> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_207">207</span></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_208">208</span></p> - -<p class="ph1">THE GERMAN DRIVE IN GALICIA</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_209">209</span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV<br /> - -<span class="large">THE GERMAN DRIVE IN GALICIA</span></h2> - -<p class="author"> -Dated:<br /> -<span class="smcap">Rovna</span>,<br /> -<em>June 26, 1915</em>.</p> - -<p class="drop"><span class="smcap">It</span> is utterly impossible at this time to give -anything like an accurate story of the past -two months in Galicia. It will be years before -the information necessary for definite history -can be accumulated from the various units -engaged. Even then there will be gaps and -inaccuracies because hundreds of the men engaged -have been killed, and so few even of the Generals -know more than their own side of the case, that -the difficulties of the historian will be enormous.</p> - -<p>I shall not attempt then, in this brief chapter, -anything but to trace the merest outline of -the causes and effects of the German drive in -Galicia.</p> - -<p>It has been apparent to all of us here from the -start of the war that Warsaw was becoming -increasingly the German objective. Attempts -from the north and on the centre failed absolutely, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_210">210</span> -the latter both in October and in January-February, -and the former in September and in -March. The fall of Przemysl and the Russian -advance in the Carpathians, with the even greater -menace to the Hungarian plain by the army -operating in Bukovina, was threatening Austria -with absolute collapse. The extreme eastern -army with its drives further and further toward -Hungary is said to have brought Hungary to -the verge of openly demanding a separate -peace. All these causes, then, rendered it necessary -for Germany to do something for Austria, -and by clearing out Galicia she hoped, not only -to restore to her broken ally something of hope -and spirit, but no doubt conceived the belief -that by the time she had done this, she -would be sufficiently far east and south of -Warsaw to threaten it from the south and rear, -and possibly cause its abandonment without a -real battle near Warsaw at all. Many people -here believe that the Germans want merely to -secure and hold the line of the Vistula and Galicia, -and then concentrate all their attention on the -west. After the echoes of the fighting north -of Warsaw in February-March were dying away, -it became clear to all of us here that there would -soon be another blow in some other quarter. -Russia, as one so often repeats, has this enormous -line. She cannot be in strength at every point, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_211">211</span> -and though she saw for several weeks that the -Germans were concentrating on the Dunajec -line in Galicia, she could not reinforce it sufficiently -to hold it without weakening other more vital -points. As a fact, under the conditions which -actually developed there she could not have held -it, nor I think could any other army.</p> - -<p>The world’s history records nothing that has -even approximated to this German drive which -fell on one Russian Army, the bulk of which -remained at its post and perished. The total -number of German army corps sent down to -do this job is uncertain. I have heard from -many in high authority estimates differing so -widely that I can supply no statement as absolutely -correct. Perhaps sixteen is not far -from the actual number, though probably reinforcements -and extra divisions sent in pretty -steadily to fill losses, brought up the total to -a larger number than the full strength of sixteen -corps. However the details at this time are -immaterial. The main point is that the Russians -were entirely outnumbered in men, guns and -ammunition. The statements about the German -massed guns also vary as widely as from 2,000 -to 4,000. Certainly they had not less than 200 -guns equal to or exceeding 8-inch types. These -were concentrated on the front which was held by -three or four corps of the devoted Dunajec army. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_212">212</span></p> - -<p>Men who know have told me that what followed -was indescribable. I have not heard that there -was any panic, or attempt to retreat on the part -of the troops. In characteristic Russian fashion -they remained and took their gruelling. For -whole versts behind the line, I am told that the -terrain was a hash of earth, mangled bodies, -and fragments of exploded shell. If the statement -that the Germans fired 700,000 shells in -three hours is true, and it is accepted in the -Russian Army, one can readily realize what -must have been the condition of the army occupying -that line of works. Much criticism has -been brought against the General commanding -because he had no well-prepared second line -of trenches. No doubt he ought to have had -it, but it would have made little difference beyond -delaying the advance a few days. The German -machine had been preparing for two months, -and everything was running as smooth as a well-oiled -engine, with troops, munitions and supplies -being fed in with precision and regularity.</p> - -<p>Russia is not an industrial nation, and cannot -turn her resources into war material overnight -as the Germans have been able to do. She was -outclassed in everything except bravery, and -neither the Germans nor any other army can -claim superiority to her in that respect. With -the centre literally cut away, the keystone of -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_213">213</span> -the Russian line had been pulled out, and nothing -remained but to retire. In this retirement five -Russian Armies were involved. Beginning on -the right was that of Evert lying entirely in -Poland on the Nida river. His army has been -usually successful and always full of fight, and -its retirement was purely that it might keep -symmetrical with the Russian line as a whole. I -have written in an earlier chapter of Evert’s -retreat, of how in falling back on to his new -line he accounted for between 20,000 and 30,000 -of the German and Austrian troops. Of this it -is unnecessary to say more at present, save that -his army is in a good position and stronger and -more spirited than ever.</p> - -<div id="i_213" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_213.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>General Brussilov.</p> -</div> - -<p>The unfortunate army of the Dunajec, whose -commander and number are as well known in -England as here, began then to fall back with -what there was left of it on the San, tearing up -railroads and fighting a rearguard action with -what strength it could command. In the meantime -the army of Brussilov, which up to this -time had never been defeated, was well through -the Carpathians and going strong. The crumbling -of their right neighbour left them in a terrible -plight, and only skilful and rapid manœuvring -got them back out of the passes in time to get -in touch with the fragments of the retreating -centre, which by the time it reached the San -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_214">214</span> -had got reinforcements and some ammunition. -Brussilov’s right tried to hold Przemysl, but as -the commander assured me, there was nothing -left of the fortifications. Besides, as I gather -from officers in that part of his army, further -retirements of the next army kept exposing their -flank, and made it imperative for the whole army to -commence its retreat toward the Russian frontier.</p> - -<p>I have good reason for believing that the -Russian plan to retire to their own frontier was -decided on when they lost Przemysl, and that -the battles on the Grodek line, around Lwow, -were merely rearguard actions. In any case, I -do know that while the fighting was still in progress -on the San, and just as Przemysl was taken, -work was commenced on a permanent line of -defence south of Lublin and Cholm, the line in -fact which is at this moment being held by the -Russians. My belief, then, is that everything -that took place between the San and the present -line must be considered inevitable in the higher -interests of Russian strategy. The interim between -leaving the San and taking up what is now -approximately the line on which they will probably -make a definite stand, will make a very fine page -in Russian history. I cannot at this time go into -any details, but the Allies will open their eyes -when they know exactly how little the Russians -had in the way of ammunition to hold off this -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_215">215</span> -mass of Germans and Austrians whose supply of -shell poured in steadily week after week.</p> - -<p>Next to the army of Brussilov is that army -which had been assaulting and making excellent -headway in the Eastern Carpathians. They, -too, were attacked with terrible energy, but -taken independently could probably have held -on indefinitely. As it was they never moved -until the retirement of all the other armies west -of them rendered their position untenable. The -German and Austrian communiques have constantly -discussed the defeat of this army. The -world can judge whether it was demoralized -when it learns that in six weeks, from Stryj to -the Zota Lipa, it captured 53,000 prisoners. -During this same period, the army of Bukovina -in the far left was actually advancing, and only -came back to preserve the symmetry of the whole -line. The problem of falling back over this -extremely long front with five great armies, after -the centre was completely broken, was as difficult -an one as could well be presented. In the face -of an alert enemy there were here and there -local disasters and bags of Russian prisoners, -but with all their skill, and with all their railroads, -and superiority in both men and ammunition, -the Germans and the Austrians have not been -able to destroy the Russian force, which stands -before them to-day on a new and stronger line. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_216">216</span> -The further the Russians have retired, the slower -has been their retreat and the more difficult has -it been for the enemy to follow up their strokes -with anything like the same strength and energy. -In other words the Russians are pretty nearly -beyond the reach of enemy blows which can -hurt them fatally.</p> - -<p>The Austrians have followed up the Eastern -armies and claim enormous victories, but it must -be pretty clear now, even to the Austrians and -Germans, that these victories, which are costing -them twice what they are costing the Russians, -are merely rearguard actions. In any case the -Austrian enthusiasm is rapidly ebbing away. After -two months of fighting the Germans have finally -swung their main strength back toward the line -of Cholm-Lublin, with the probable intent of -finishing up the movement by threatening Warsaw -and thus closing up successfully the whole -Galician campaign, which as many believe, had -this end in view. But now they find a recuperated -and much stronger Russian Army complacently -awaiting them on a selected position which is -in every way the best they have ever had.</p> - -<p>As I write there is still much doubt as to whether -the Germans will try and go further ahead here, -for it is pretty clear that they are checked at -this point, and that the Galician movement -has reached its low-water mark as far as the -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_217">217</span> -Russians are concerned. The next blow will -no doubt fall either north of Warsaw or possibly -on the much-battered Bzura-Rawka Front itself, -which for so many months has stood the wear -and tear of many frantic efforts to break through. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_218">218</span> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_219">219</span></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_220">220</span></p> - -<p class="ph1">THE FRONT OF IVANOV</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_221">221</span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI<br /> - -<span class="large">THE FRONT OF IVANOV</span></h2> - -<p class="author"> -<span style="padding-right: 3em">Dated:</span><br /> -<span class="smcap">Galician Frontier</span>,<br /> -<em>June 28, 1915</em>.</p> - -<p class="drop"><span class="smcap">In</span> Russia it is not a simple matter to change -one’s “front.” For many months I have -been associated with the group of armies over -which Alexieff presides, where I have been -able to move about from army to army -with the utmost freedom. When I decided to -change my base to the head-quarters of Ivanov -and the front of Galicia I found myself surrounded -by difficulties. For more than a month now, one -could enter Warsaw without a permit or travel -on the roads or pass to and from any of the -towns in the area of war. I applied to my army -friends in Warsaw and they, by permission of -General Alexieff, kindly lent me a young officer -whose duty it was to deliver me into the hands -of the staff of the Galician Front.</p> - -<p>We left Warsaw in my motor, not even knowing -where the staff of Ivanov was, for at that moment -it was on its way to a new destination, the retirements -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_222">222</span> -from Galicia having thrown the commanding -General too far west to be conveniently in -touch with his left flank armies. Stopping at -a point about 100 versts from Warsaw, we -learned our destination, and two days later -motored into the quaint little Russian town not -too far from Galicia, where the presiding genius -of the Eastern Campaign had arrived that very -morning with his whole staff. Here we found -Ivanov living on a special train with his head-quarters -in a kind of old museum. As the staff -had just arrived, everything was still in confusion -and nothing had been done to make the room, -which was as large as a barn, comfortable. In the -centre were two enormous tables covered with -maps, before which sat a rather tired-looking man -with a great full beard. He arose as we entered, -and after shaking hands bade us be seated.</p> - -<div id="i_222a" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_222a.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>General Ivanov.</p> -</div> - -<div id="i_222b" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_222b.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>My car in a Galician village.</p> -</div> - -<p>General Ivanov is a man of about sixty, with -a kindly gentle face and a low and musical -voice. It is impossible to imagine him ever -becoming excited or ever making a sudden movement. -Everything about him suggests calm, -balance, poise and absolute self-control. As he -speaks only Russian I was obliged to talk with him -entirely through an interpreter. He has very -deep blue eyes with a kindly little twinkle in -them that one suspects might easily turn to a -point of fire if he were roused. Since meeting -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_223">223</span> -him I have known many of his staff, and find that -his personality is just what his appearance suggests. -A great-hearted, kindly, unselfish man, -he is worshipped by all whose duty it is to work -with, for and under him. It is not etiquette -according to the censor to quote anything that -the General said, and I deeply regret this as I -talked with him for an hour, and after the first -thirty minutes felt as much at home as though -I had known him a lifetime. His work and his -army and the success of Russia make up his -entire life. He impressed me as a big, earnest -man, giving all the force of a powerful intellect -to a very big job and doing it with the simplicity -that is characteristic of all big men.</p> - -<p>After a few commonplaces he asked me what I -wanted. I told him quite frankly that from a -news point of view, Russia, and the Galician -campaign especially, was little known in the -West. That the public in the West were depressed -over the Russian reverses in Galicia, and that -all of the friends of Russia wanted to know as -accurately as possible what the conditions were -in his armies. He leaned back in his chair and -studied me closely for fully a minute, and then -smiled a little, and the interpreter translated to -me: “The General says that you may do what -you like in his armies. He will detail an officer -who speaks English to go with you. You may -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_224">224</span> -visit any army, any trench, any position or any -organization that you wish, and he will give you -the written permission. He will suggest a plan -which he thinks advisable, but if you do not -care for it you can make one up for yourself and -he will give his consent to any programme that -you care to suggest.” The General smiled -and then bent forward over his maps, and -with his pencil pointed out to me the general -arrangement of his armies, and after some discussion -advised that I should start on his extreme -left flank, the last division of which was -operating in Bukovina not far from the Roumanian -frontier. We were to stop as long as we cared -to, and then visit each army in turn until we -had covered all in his group, when the officer -who was to be detailed to accompany us would -deliver us to the first army next to him that -belonged to the Alexieff group.</p> - -<p>He then sent for the officer who was to be our -guide, and presently there appeared a tall, handsome -young man who was introduced to us as -Prince Oblensky, a captain of the Chevalier -Guards, now serving as personal aide-de-camp to -General Ivanov. From the moment that we -met him the Prince took charge of us completely, -and for two weeks he was our guide, philosopher -and friend. In passing I must say that I have -never known a man of sweeter disposition and a -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_225">225</span> -more charming companion than this young -Captain, from whom I was not separated for above -an hour or two at a time in fourteen days. The -Prince took me around and introduced me to a -number of the staff, and all of them talked freely -and with very little reserve about the whole -situation.</p> - -<p>The point of view that I found at Ivanov’s -staff was this. Russia with her long front could -not be strong everywhere at once. Her railroad -system and her industrial organization were in -no way equal to the German. Their sudden -concentration was irresistible, and almost from -the start the Russians realized that they -would have to go back. It was hoped that -the Germans could not maintain their ascendancy -of ammunition and strength beyond the San. -Indeed, for a few days there was something of -a lull in which the Russians made gains in certain -places. Then the flow of ammunition was resumed, -and from that time it was pretty well understood -that the Grodek line, and Lwow, would -be held only as rearguard actions to delay the -German advance, and to take from them the -maximum loss at the minimum sacrifice. This -particular staff, in whose hands rested the conduct -of the whole manœuvre, had then the task -of withdrawing these armies over this vast front -in such order and symmetry that as they retired -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_226">226</span> -no one should overlap the flanks of the other, -and that no loopholes should occur where an -enemy could get through. With these numerous -armies, operating in all kinds of countries with -all sorts of lines of communications, falling back -before fierce assaults from an enemy superior -in guns and men, the performance of getting -them safely back on to a united line where they -could once more make a united stand, must, I -think, take its place in history as one of the -greatest military manœuvres that has ever been -made.</p> - -<p>I had just come from Petrograd where the -greatest gloom prevailed in regard to the evacuation -of Lwow, and I was surprised to find that -no one here attached any great importance to -Lwow. One officer of general’s rank remarked, -“We do not believe in holding untenable military -positions for moral effect. Lwow is of no great -value to us from a military point of view, and -the way the line developed it was impossible -to stay there without great risk. So we left. -By and by we will go back and take it again when -we have more ammunition.” This was the first -time that I heard this statement, but since then -I have heard it at least a hundred times made -by officers of all ranks from generals down to -subalterns. All agreed that it was disappointing -to come back after having fought so many months -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_227">227</span> -in taking Galicia, but I did not find one man -who was in the least depressed; and from that -day to this I have not heard in the army an -expressed fear, or even a suggestion, that there -might be a possibility that Russia would not -prove equal to her task. The Russians as a -race may be a bit slow in reaching conclusions, -but once they get their teeth set I think there -are no more stubborn or determined people in -the world.</p> - -<p>This retreat with all its losses and all its sacrifices -has not, I think, shaken the courage of a -single soldier in the whole Russian Army. They -simply shut their teeth and pray for an opportunity -to begin all over again. All eagerly -assured me that the Germans and Austrians -had lost far more than the Russians, and I was told -by a high authority that the Germans estimated -their own losses in two months at 380,000 killed, -wounded and missing. One man significantly -put the situation, “To judge of this movement -one should see how it looks behind the German -lines. In spite of their advances and bulletins -of success, there has been great gloom behind -their front. We know absolutely that every -town and even every village in Eastern Silesia -is filled with wounded, and in Breslau and Posen -there is hardly a house that has not been requisitioned -for the accommodation of wounded. Since -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_228">228</span> -the enemy crossed the Dunajec there has been -an unbroken stream of wounded flowing steadily -back across the frontier. <em>This</em> we do not see -in the papers printed in Germany. The Russian -game is to keep on weakening the Germans. We -would rather advance, of course, but whether -we advance or retreat we are weakening the -enemy day after day; sometime he will be -unable to repair his losses and then we will go -on again. Do not worry. All of this is but -temporary. We are not in the least discouraged.”</p> - -<p>Another statement which at first struck me -as curious, but which I have since come to understand, -was that the morale of the Austrians -has been steadily decreasing since the capture -of Przemysl and the fighting on the San. Since -visiting Ivanov I have been in six armies and -have talked in nearly all with the men who -have been examining the Austrian prisoners. -Their point of view seems to be pretty much -the same. And when I say the Austrians, I -mean, of course, the common soldiers and not -the authorities or the officers. The Austrian -soldiers’ view is something like this: “We have -fought now for a year, and in May we had practically -lost Galicia. The end of the war, for -which we have never cared, was almost in sight. -We hoped that soon there would be some kind -of peace and we could go home. We had lost -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_229">229</span> -Galicia, but the average man in the Austrian -Army cares little for Galicia. Just as the end -seemed in sight, the Germans, whom we don’t -like any way, came down here and dragged us -along into this advance. At first we were pleased, -but we never expected the Russians to hold out -so long. Finally the Germans have given us -back Lwow, and now little by little they are -beginning to go away. It is only a question of -time when they will all be gone either to France -or against some other Russian front. Then the -Russians will come back. Our officers will make -us defend Lwow. They will make us defend the -Grodek line, Przemysl and the Carpathians. -The Russians are united. We are not. They -will beat us as they did before. In the end we -will be just where we were in May. It is all -an extra fight, with more losses, more suffering -and more misery. We owe it all to the Germans. -We do not like it and we are not interested.”</p> - -<p>I think this point of view is more or less typical, -and it accounts in a large measure for the fact -that even though they are advancing the Austrians -are still surrendering in enormous blocks -whenever they get the chance of doing so without -being caught in the act by their Allies.</p> - -<p>For the most part the men that I talked with -here thought that the army had retired about as -far as it would for the present. But one feels -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_230">230</span> -constant surprise at the stoicism of the Russian, -who does not apparently feel the smallest concern -at withdrawals, for, as they say, “If they keep -coming on into Russia it will be as it was with -Napoleon. They can never beat us in the long -run, and the further they force us back the worse -for them. Look at Moscow,” and they smile -and offer you a cigarette. I have never in my -life seen people who apparently have a more -sublime confidence in their cause and in themselves -than the Russians. Their confidence does -not lie in their military technique, for I think all -admit that in that the Germans are their superiors. -It lies in their own confidence, in the stamina and -character of the Russian people, who, when once -aroused are as slow to leave off a fight as they are -to begin it.</p> - -<p>Throughout Russia to-day the strength of the -war idea is growing daily. Every reverse, every -withdrawal and every rumour of defeat only -stiffens the determination to fight harder and -longer. Time is their great ally they say, -for Germany cannot, they are certain, fight -indefinitely, while they believe that they can.</p> - -<p>These opinions are not my own but the opinions -of Russians. These men may be unduly enthusiastic -about their countrymen, but what -they say I have since heard all over the army -at the Front; whether they are right or wrong -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_231">231</span> -they may certainly be taken as typical of the -natural view.</p> - -<p>When I left Petrograd I was not cheerful as -to the outlook in Galicia. When I left Ivanov’s -head-quarters I felt more optimistic than I had -been in six weeks. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_232">232</span> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_233">233</span></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_234">234</span></p> - -<p class="ph1">HUNTING FOR THE ARMY OF THE -BUKOVINA</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_235">235</span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII<br /> - -<span class="large">HUNTING FOR THE ARMY OF THE -BUKOVINA</span></h2> - -<p class="author"> -<span style="padding-right: 3em">Dated:</span><br /> -<span class="smcap">Tlust, Galicia</span>,<br /> -<em>June 30, 1915</em>.</p> - -<p class="drop"><span class="smcap">The</span> town where General Ivanov lives is -in Russia proper, and one may realize -the scope of the military operations when one -learns that the head-quarters of the army of -his left flank is nearly 200 versts from the -commander, while the furthest outpost of that -army itself is perhaps 150 or 200 versts further -still, which means that the directing genius is -not far from 400 versts from his most distant line. -After leaving the head-quarters we motored for -40 or 50 versts along the main line of communications -of the whole group of armies, passing the -usual endless train of transport and troops moving -slowly forward to fill the ranks and replenish -the supplies of the vast force that lies spread -out ahead of us. For eleven months now, first -in one part of Russia and then in another, I -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_236">236</span> -have been passing on the roads these endless -chains of transport. Truly one begins to get -the idea that there is nothing in the world nowadays -but soldiers, guns, caissons and transport. -One wonders where on earth it has all been kept -in the days before August, a year ago, when a -dozen transport carts or a battery of artillery -was a sufficient novelty on the road to cause one -to turn and look at it.</p> - -<p>Forty versts from the head-quarters, we turn -from the main road and strike off to the east and -south toward Tarnopol, which though not the -head-quarters of an army (if it were I could not -mention it) is not too far away from the same. -The road we follow is an excellent one as far as -Kremenetz, a wonderfully picturesque little town -tucked away in the hills, not far from the Russian-Galician -frontier. Its quaint streets are now -filled with the inevitable paraphernalia of war. -From here by a road of lesser merit, we wind up -a narrow road to one of the most picturesque -spots I have ever seen, called Pochaief. This -is the last town on the Russian side of the frontier. -Here is a monastery a thousand years old, a -Mecca to which come thousands of the devout -peasantry from all over the Empire. The building -itself is one of the greatest piles in Europe, -and on its hill towers above the surrounding -country so that it is visible for 20 versts with -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_237">237</span> -its golden dome shining in the summer sun. -We reached the place late in the afternoon -and learned that all the regular roads stopped -here as it has apparently not been considered -policy by either the Russian or Austrian Governments -to have easy highways across the frontier. -At this point we were perhaps 12 versts -from the nearest good road in Galicia, a very -trifling distance for a car that has been doing -70 or 80 versts an hour. The head of the police in -Pochaief kindly lent us a gendarme, who assured -us that we could get across the 12 intervening -versts in an hour. So with this placid-faced -guide we started about nine in the evening. -This amiable gendarme, who had more goodwill -than brains, in half an hour had led us into a -country of bluffs, forests, bridle paths and worse -that defy description. I neglected to say that -General Ivanov had kindly given us an extra -motor to carry our baggage, and extra chauffeurs, -etc. The moon was just rising and we were -digging ourselves out of difficulties for the tenth -time when our guide announced that the road -was now a perfectly clear and good one, and -saluting respectfully left us in the wood with -our cars groaning and panting and staggering -over bumps and ditches until one came to have -the most intense admiration for the gentlemen -that design motor-cars. It is a mystery to me -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_238">238</span> -how they ever stand the misery that they have -to undergo.</p> - -<p>By midnight we were sitting out on a ridge of -hills stuck fast in a field with our engines -racing, and the mud flying and the whole -party pushing and sweating and swearing. No -doubt our guide had foreseen this very spot and -had had the discretion to withdraw before we -reached it. This was the exact frontier, and -with its rolling hills and forests stretching before -us in the quiet moonlight it was very beautiful. -Our Prince, who never gets discouraged or ruffled, -admired the scenery and smoked a cigarette, -and we all wished for just one moment of our -guide, for whom we had sundry little pleasantries -prepared. While we were still panting and -gasping, a figure on horseback came over the -hill and cautiously approached us. He proved -to be a policeman from the Galician side who -had come out as the Prince told us because he -had heard our engines and thought that a German -aeroplane “had sat down on the hill” -and he had come out to capture it. He was -slightly disappointed at his mistake, but guided -us back to the village whence he had come. -Near here we found a beautiful Austrian estate, -where we woke up the keeper and made him -give us “my lady’s” bed chamber for the night, -which he did grudgingly. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_239">239</span></p> - -<p>Our troubles were now over, for after one breakdown -in the morning we were on a good highway -which ran <em>viâ</em> Potkaimen down to Tarnopol. At -Potkaimen we were again on the line of travel, -with the line of creaking transport and jangling -guns and caissons. I have never passed through a -more beautiful or picturesque country in my life, -and wonder why tourists do not come this way. -Apparently until the war these villages were -as much off the beaten path as though they -were in the heart of Africa. Rolling hills, forests, -with silvery lakes dotting the valleys, extend -for miles with wonderful little streams watering -each small water-shed between the ridges. The -roads are fine, and the last 60 versts into Tarnopol -we made in record time. A few miles from the -city we began to pass an endless line of carts -bearing all sorts and descriptions of copper. It -was evident that many distilleries and other -plants had been hurriedly dismantled, and everything -in them containing copper shipped away -less it fall into the hands of the copper-hungry -enemy.</p> - -<p>Here, too, we passed long lines of the carts -of the Galician peasantry fleeing from the fear -of the German invasion. It strikes one as extraordinary -that these inhabitants, many of whose -husbands, brothers and fathers are fighting -in the Austrian Armies, should take refuge in -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_240">240</span> -flight at the rumour of their approach. It is -a sad commentary on the reputation of the -Germans that even the peoples of their Allies flee -at the report of their approach. The name of -Prussian down here seems to carry as much -terror to the Galician peasant as ever it did -to the Belgians or the Poles in other theatres -of war. The peasantry are moving out bag and -baggage with all the pathos and misery which -the abandonment of their homes and lifelong -treasures spells to these simple folk. Even ten -months’ association with similar scenes does -not harden one to the pitifulness of it all. Little -children clinging to their toys, mothers, haggard -and frightened, nursing babes at their breasts, and -fathers and sons urging on the patient, weary, -family horse as he tugs despairingly at the overloaded -cart weighted down with the pathetic -odds and ends of the former home.</p> - -<p>Tarnopol itself was a great surprise to me. -It is a typical Austrian town with a lovely park -in the centre and three hotels which are nearly first -class. Paved streets, imposing public buildings -and a very fine station, besides hundreds of lovely -dwelling houses, make a very beautiful little -town; and with its setting in the valley, Tarnopol -seems an altogether desirable place. Here as -elsewhere troops are seething. The station is -a military restaurant and emergency hospital -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_241">241</span> -combined. One of the waiting-rooms has been -turned into an operating and dressing-room, -and when there is fighting on at the front the -whole place is congested with stretchers and -the atmosphere reeks of disinfectants and ether -fumes.</p> - -<p>We stopped here only overnight, for we are -bound to the furthest stretch of our front to the -south-east. In the evening there came through -battalion after battalion of troops swinging -through the streets, tired, dirty and battle stained, -but, with it all, singing at the top of their lungs. -These men were moving from one front to another, -and most of them had been fighting for weeks. -The first glance was sufficient to make one realize -that these troops were certainly not down-hearted.</p> - -<p>In strong contrast to the Russians was the -sight of the latest haul of prisoners which passed -through the next morning—several thousand -Austrians and two or three hundred Germans.</p> - -<p>In spite of their being caught at the hightide -of their advance movement the Austrians had -the same broken-hearted expression that I have -seen in tens of thousands of Austrian prisoners -for ten months. I have now seen Austrians -from every quarter of their Empire, and I must -say I have never seen a squad of prisoners who -have not had the same expression of hopelessness -and resignation. These were well-clothed -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_242">242</span> -and for prisoners moderately clean. The critic -may say that prisoners always look depressed -and dejected, but to judge the Austrians, one -must compare them with the Germans, and it -was possible to do so on this occasion, for directly -behind the troops of the Hapsburgs came two -or three hundred Germans. I have never seen -such spectacles in my life. Worn, haggard, -ragged and tired they were, but in contrast to -the Austrians, they walked proudly, heads thrown -back, glaring defiantly at the curious crowds -that watched them pass. Whether they are -prisoners or conquerors the German soldiers always -wear the same mien of superiority and arrogance. -But the significance of this group was -not their self-respect and defiance of their captivity -but their condition. I have never in war -seen men so nearly “all-in” as these prisoners. -Two in the line had no shirts, their ragged coats -covering their bare, brown breasts. Some had -no hats, all were nearly in rags, the boots of many -were worn thin and many of them limped wearily. -Boys of eighteen marched by men who looked a -hundred, though I suppose they were under fifty -actually. One saw a giant of 6 feet 5 inches -walking by a stripling of 5 feet 2 inches. -Their faces were thin and drawn, and many -of them looked as if one might have hung hats -on their cheek-bones. These men may be wrong -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_243">243</span> -and they may be cruel, but one must admit that -they are object lessons in fortitude, and whatever -they are they are certainly soldiers. In wagons -behind came wounded Germans, mostly privates. -Later I discovered that a number of these troops -had just come from the French front. As one -said, “Arrived at noon, captured at three.” -Their explanation of their capture was that their -officer lost the way. Further examination brought -forth the information that nearly all their officers -had been killed; and that the bulk of the company -officers were now either young boys or old -men who knew little of maps or military matters, -which accounted for them getting lost and falling -into the Russian hands. The Austrians were -captured because, as usual, they wanted to be. -The numbers of the prisoners seen here, that is -2,000 Austrians and 200 Germans, is just about -the proportion in which morale and enthusiasm -in the war exists in the two armies.</p> - -<p>Next morning having obtained the necessary -permits we took our motors and headed south -for the army lying on the Dniester with its flank -in the Bukovina. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_244">244</span> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_245">245</span></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_246">246</span></p> - -<p class="ph1">THE RUSSIAN LEFT</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_247">247</span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII<br /> - -<span class="large">THE RUSSIAN LEFT</span></h2> - -<p class="author"> -<span class="smcap">Germanikowka, Galicia</span>,<br /> -<em>July 3, 1915</em>.<br /> -</p> - -<p class="drop"><span class="smcap">The</span> army of the Bukovina, or the extreme -Russian left, is probably the most romantic -organization operating in one of the most picturesque -countries in the whole theatre of this -gigantic war. In the first place the left is composed -very largely of the type of cavalry which -I think no other country in the world can duplicate, -that is the irregular horsemen brought -from all parts of the East. Tribes from the -Caucasus, Tartars, Mongols, and I know not -what others, are here welded together into brigades -and divisions, and make, all told, nearly -two complete army corps with only a sprinkling -of infantry and regular cavalry. It was this -army that gained such headway in its advance -toward the Hungarian plain, and it -is this very army that is credited with so alarming -the Hungarians that they threatened independent -peace unless something was done for them. -That something we know now was Austria’s wail to -Germany and the resulting Galician campaign. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_248">248</span></p> - -<p>During all the first part of the great German -drive, this army with its hordes of wild cavalry -was proceeding confidently “hacking its way -through” all resistance, and capturing thousands -upon thousands of Austrians or Hungarians -that came in its way. For nearly a month -after things were going badly in the West, it -was moving victoriously forward until it became -evident that unless it stopped it would find itself -an independent expedition headed for Buda-Pest -and completely out of touch with the rest -of the Russian line which was withdrawing -rapidly. Then came a pause, and as the flanking -armies continued to retreat, the army was very -unwillingly obliged to retire also to keep in -touch with its neighbour. My own impression -as to the spirits of this army, especially of the -cavalry corps, is similar to the impression one -forms when one sees a bulldog being let loose -from another hound whom he has down, and is -chewing luxuriously when his master comes -along, and drags him away on a leash. So -these troops have retired snarling and barking -over their shoulders, hoping that the enemy -would follow close enough to let them have -another brush with them.</p> - -<div id="i_248" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_248.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>G. H. Mewes.</p> -</div> - -<p>There has been fighting of more or less acuteness, -especially where German troops have been -engaged, but taken on the whole this portion of -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_249">249</span> -the Russian front cannot be considered a serious -one and their withdrawal has been forced by -the greater strategy. I found many of the -younger officers of the opinion that they could -advance at any time if they only had the permission -from the powers that be. As for the -soldiers—a single look into those set swarthy -faces was enough to satisfy one that they would -willingly advance in any event regardless of policy -or orders either. I have never seen such fierce -looking men in my life. Many of them do not -speak Russian, and to them the war is a real -joy. Heretofore they have had to be content -to fight among themselves for nothing in particular; -now that they have a chance to fight for -something really great they are in their element. -I question how valuable troops of this -character would be under different conditions, -but here in this rough Bukovina country they -are nearly ideal for their work, as is manifest -from the manner in which they have swept the -enemy before them.</p> - -<p>On leaving Tarnopol we came directly to the -head-quarters of one of these corps, where we -spent three extremely interesting days. The -position which this army was holding is, in a -rough way, from the junction of the Zota Lipa -and the Dniester, down that river to a point -perhaps 20 versts west of Chocin, and thence -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_250">250</span> -in an irregular line 40 or 50 versts through -Bukovina in the direction of the Roumanian -frontier. The Dniester itself is a deep-flowing -river lying between great bluffs which for miles -skirt the river bank on both sides. These bluffs -are for the most part crested with heavy timber. -In a general way the Russians are holding one -bank, and the Austrians the other, though here -and there patches of Russians have clung -to the South side, while in one or two spots -Austrians backed by Germans have gained a -foothold on the north bank. The first afternoon -I arrived, I went out to a 356 metre hill from -where I could look over the whole country. -I discerned easily the lines of the Austrian and -Russian positions between which was the valley -through which flowed the Dniester. There are -any number of young Petrograd swells here -who have left their crack cavalry corps, many -of which are dismounted and fighting in the -trenches in Poland and on other fronts, to put -on the uniform of the Cossack and lead these -rough riders of the East in their romantic sweeps -towards the Hungarian plains. I have been in -some armies where I found hardly any one who -spoke English, but in this one corps I found -nearly a score who spoke it, many as well as I -did, which indicates pretty clearly the type of -young men that Russia has here, and is one -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_251">251</span> -reason, no doubt, why the army has done so well.</p> - -<div id="i_251" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_251.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>Stanley Washburn, Prince Oblensky, Count Tolstoy, Count Keller.</p> -</div> - -<p>Here I met Count Tolstoi, son of the novelist; -Count Keller, whose father was killed by Japanese -shrapnel on the Motienling Pass in Manchuria, -and many other men whose names are well -known in Russia. Count Keller was the ranking -Captain in a squadron (<em>sotnia</em>, I believe they -call it) of cavalry from the Caucasus, and carried -us off to his lair in a valley not far from the -Dniester. Here we met a courteous old Persian -who commanded the regiment, and dined in -a quaint old castle where they had their head-quarters. -Deep in its little valley, the castle -was not seen by the Austrians, but had long -since been spotted by the aeroplanes of the -enemy. The result was that every afternoon a -few shells were sent over the southern ridge -of hills, just to let the regimental staff know -that they were not forgotten. The day before -we arrived twelve horses were killed in the garden, -and while we were cleaning up for dinner, -a shrapnel shell whined through the yard bursting -somewhere off in the brush.</p> - -<p>After dinner the dancers of the regiment came -up and in the half-light performed their weird -evolutions. In long flowing coats, with their -oriental faces, emitting uncanny sounds from -their mouths, they formed a picture that I shall -long remember. Count Keller told me that in -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_252">252</span> -spite of all their wildness they were fine troops -to command, for, as he said, “They have very -high ideals of their profession. I may be killed -or wounded, but I am always sure that my men -will never leave me. They cannot speak my -tongue, but there is not a man in my command -who would not feel himself permanently disgraced -if he left the body of his officer on the field of -battle. They are absolutely fearless and will -go anywhere, caring nothing whatever for death, -wounds, hardship or anything else that war -brings forth. I am very fond of them indeed.”</p> - -<p>The positions at this point were about three -versts distant from our little isolated valley, -and as they were out on the crest of the bluff -it was impossible to visit them until after dark. -So on the great veranda of the castle we sat -late after our dinner, until darkness fell and a -great full moon rose slowly above the neighbouring -hills flooding the valley with its silver rays, -bringing out the old white castle as clearly in -the darkness as a picture emerges from a photographic -plate when the developer is poured upon -it. It was just after midnight when Count -Keller and I, well mounted on Cossack ponies, -rode down into the valley and turned our horses -on to the winding road that runs beside the -little stream that leaps and gurgles over the -rocks on the way to the Dniester. For a mile -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_253">253</span> -or more we followed the river, and then turning -sharply to the right, took a bridle path and -climbed slowly up the sharp side of the bluff. -For fifteen or twenty minutes we rode through -the woods, now in the shadow and now out in an -opening where the shadows of the branches -swaying softly in the moonlight made patterns -on the road. Suddenly we came out upon a -broad white road where the Count paused.</p> - -<p>“We are advised to leave the horses here,” -he remarked casually, “Shall we go on? Are -you afraid?” Not knowing anything about -the position I had no ideas on the subject, so -we continued down the moonlit road, and while -I was wondering where we were, we came out -abruptly on the bluff just above the river, -where the great white road ran along the crest -for a mile or more. I paused for a moment to -admire the view. Deep down below us, like -a ribbon of silver in the shimmering moonlight, -lay the great river. Just across on the other -bank was the Austrian line with here and there -spots of flickering light where the Austrians had -fires in their trenches. There was not a sound -to mar the silence of the perfect night save the -gentle rustle of the wind in the trees. “The -Austrians can see us plainly from here,” remarked -the Count indifferently. “Gallop!” The -advice seemed sound to me, but not knowing -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_254">254</span> -the country I was obliged to reply, “Which -way?” “Right,” he replied laconically.</p> - -<p>It is sufficient to say that I put spurs to my -horse, and for the mile that lay exposed in the -moonlight my little animal almost flew while the -Count pounded along a close second just behind -me. A mile away we reached the welcome -shadows of a small bunch of trees, and as I rode -into the wood I was sharply challenged by a -guttural voice, and as I pulled my horse up -on his haunches a wild-looking Cossack took -my bridle. Before I had time to begin an explanation, -the Count came up and the sharp -words of the challenge were softened to polite -speeches of welcome from the officer in command.</p> - -<p>We were in the front line trench or rather -just behind it, for the road lay above it while -the trench itself was between it and the river -where it could command the crossing with its -fire. Here as elsewhere, I found men who could -speak English, the one an officer and the other -a man in charge of a machine gun. This man -had been five years in Australia and had come -back to “fight the Germans,” as he said. For -an hour we sat up on the crest of the trench -under the shadow of a tree, and watched in the -sky the flare of a burning village to our right, -which was behind the Russian lines, and had -been fired just at dark by Austrian shells. I -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_255">255</span> -found that all the Russians spoke well of the -Austrians. They said they were kindly and good-natured, -never took an unfair advantage, lived -up to their flags of truce, etc. Their opinion of -the Germans was exactly the opposite. One -man said, “Sometimes the Austrians call across -that they won’t shoot during the night. Then -we all feel easy and walk about in the moonlight. -One of our soldiers even went down and -had a bathe in the river, while the Austrians -called across to him jokes and remarks, which -of course he could not understand. The Germans -say they won’t fire, and just as soon as our men -expose themselves they begin to shoot. They -are always that way.”</p> - -<div id="i_254" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_254.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>Cossacks dancing the Tartars’ native dance.</p> -</div> - -<p>I have never known a more absolutely -quiet and peaceful scene than this from the -trench on the river’s bluff. As I was looking -up the streak of silver below us, thinking -thus, there came a deep boom from the east -and then another and another, and then on -the quiet night the sharp crackle of the -machine guns and the rip and roar of volley -firing. It was one of those spasms of fighting -that ripple up and down a line every once in a -while, but after a few minutes it died away, the -last echoes drifting away over the hills, and -silence again reigned over the Dniester. The -fire in the village was burning low, and the first -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_256">256</span> -grey streaks of dawn were tinging the horizon -in the east when we left the trench, and by a -safer bridle path returned to the castle and -took our motor-car for head-quarters which we -reached just as the sun was rising.</p> - -<p>The positions along this whole front are of natural -defence and have received and required little attention. -Rough shelter for the men, and cover for -the machine guns is about all that any one -seems to care for here. The fighting is regarded -by these wild creatures as a sort of movable -feast, and they fight now in one place and now -in another. Of course they have distinctive -lines of trenches, though they cannot compare -with the substantial works that one finds in -the Bzura-Rawka lines and the other really -serious fronts in Poland and elsewhere. In a -general way it matters very little whether the -army moves forward or backward just here. -The terrain for 100 versts is adapted to defence, -and the army can, if it had to do so, go -back so far without yielding to the enemy anything -that would have any important bearing -on the campaign of the Russian Army as a whole. -From the first day that I joined this army, I felt -the conviction that it could be relied upon to -take care of itself, and that its retirements or -changes of front could be viewed with something -approaching to equanimity. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_257">257</span></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_258">258</span></p> - -<p class="ph1">WITH A RUSSIAN CAVALRY CORPS</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_259">259</span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX<br /> - -<span class="large">WITH A RUSSIAN CAVALRY CORPS</span></h2> - -<p class="author"> -<span class="smcap">On the Dniester</span>,<br /> -<em>July 4, 1915</em>.</p> - -<p class="drop"><span class="smcap">It</span> would not be in the least difficult for me to -write a small volume on my impressions -and observations during the time that I was with -this particular cavalry corps on the Dniester; -but one assumes that at this advanced period -in the war, readers are pretty well satiated with -descriptive material of all sorts, and there is so -much news of vital importance from so many -different fronts, that the greatest merit of descriptive -writing in these days no doubt lies in -its brevity. I will therefore cut as short as -possible the account of my stay in this very -interesting organization.</p> - -<p>The General in command was a tough old -cavalry officer who spoke excellent English. -He was of the type that one likes to meet at -the Front, and his every word and act spoke of -efficiency and of the soldier who loves his profession. -His head-quarters were in a little dirty -village, and his rooms were in the second story -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_260">260</span> -of an equally unpretentious building. The room -contained a camp-bed and a group of tables -on which were spread the inevitable maps of -the positions. This particular General as far -as I could gather spent about one half of -each day poring over his maps, and the other -half in visiting his positions. Certainly he -seemed to know every foot of the terrain occupied -by his command, and every by-path and crossroad -seemed perfectly familiar to him. Without -the slightest reservation (at least as far as -I could observe) he explained to me his whole position, -pointing it out on the map. When he began to -talk of his campaign he immediately became engrossed -in its intricacies. Together we pored over -his map. “You see,” he said, “I have my — brigade -here. To the left in the ravine I have -one battery of big guns just where I can use -them nicely. Over here you see I have a bridge -and am across the river. Now the enemy is on -this side here (and he pointed at a blue mark on the -map) but I do not mind; if he advances I shall -give him a push here (and again he pointed at -another point on the map), and with my infantry -brigade I shall attack him just here, and as you -see he will have to go back”; and thus for half -an hour he talked of the problems that were -nearest and dearest to his heart. He was fully -alive to the benefits that publicity might give -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_261">261</span> -an army, and did everything in his power to -make our visit as pleasant and profitable as -possible.</p> - -<div id="i_261" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_261.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>H.I.H. The Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovitch, Commander of -two divisions of Cossacks.</p> -</div> - -<p>On the afternoon of the second day Prince -Oblensky arranged for us to meet the Grand -Duke Michael who is commanding a division of -Caucasian cavalry, one of whose detachments -we visited in the trenches a few nights ago. I -should say he is not much over forty years of -age, and he is as unaffected and democratic -a person as one can well imagine. I talked -with him for nearly an hour on the situation, -not only on his immediate front but in the theatre -of the war as a whole. Like everyone in Russian -uniform whom I have met, he was neither depressed -nor discouraged, but evinced the same -stubborn optimism that one finds everywhere -in the Russian army. As one saw him in his -simple uniform with nothing to indicate his -rank but shoulder straps of the same material -as his uniform, and barring the Cross of St. -George (won by his personal valour on the field -of battle) without a decoration, it was strange -to think that this man living so simply in a -dirty village in this far fringe of the Russian -Front, might have been the Czar of all the Russias, -living in the Winter Palace in Petrograd, but -for a few years in time of birth. The Western -World likes to think of Russia as an autocracy, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_262">262</span> -with its nobility living a life apart surrounded -by form and convention, but now, at any rate, I -think there is no country in the world where the -aristocracy are more democratic than in Russia. -It is true that the Czar himself is inaccessible, but -he is about the only man in Russia who is; and -even he, when one does meet him, is as simple, -unaffected and natural as any ordinary gentleman -in England or in America.</p> - -<p>From the Grand Duke’s head-quarters I -motored out to the Staff of a Cavalry Brigade, -and had tea with the General who, after entertaining -us with a dance performed by a group -of his tamed “wild men,” went himself with -us to his front line trench. His head-quarters -were near the front, so near in fact that while -we were waiting for the dancers to appear, a -big shell fell in a field just across the way, with -a report that sent the echoes rolling away over -hill and valley. It is considered bad form to -notice these interruptions however, and no one -winked an eye or took any notice of the incident. -The General’s trenches were not unlike -those I had already before visited, except -that one could get into them in the daytime -without risk of being shot at if one came up -through the woods, which ran rather densely -to the very crest of the bluff.</p> - -<p>Here was the most curious sight that I have -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_263">263</span> -ever seen in war. The rough-and-ready cavalrymen -from the Caucasus with their great caps, -each as big as a bushel basket, all covered with -wool about six inches long, were lying about -behind small earthworks on the fringe of the -woods peering along their rifle barrels which -were pointed across the river. On an almost -similar elevation on the opposite side was the -line of the Austrian trenches. For once the -sun was over our shoulders, and in their eyes -and not ours, so that I could safely walk to the -edge of the wood and study their works through -my field glasses. Everything was very quiet -this particular afternoon, and I could see the -blue-coated figures of the enemy moving about -behind their own trenches, as indeed the Russians -could with their naked eyes. The war has -lasted so long now, and the novelty has so worn -off, that it is safe to do many things that could -not have been done in the early months. No -one nowadays is anxious to start anything unnecessary, -and sniping is a bore to all concerned, -and it hardly draws a shot if one or two men -are seen moving about. It is only when important -groups appear that shots are fired.</p> - -<p>Not two hundred yards back in the woods were -the bivouacs of the reserves, and the hundreds -and hundreds of the little ponies tethered to -trees. There they stood dozing in the summer -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_264">264</span> -sunshine, twitching their tails and nipping each -other occasionally. I have never seen cavalry -in the trenches before, much less cavalry with -their horses so near that they could actually -wait until the enemy were almost in their works -and then mount and be a mile away before the -trench itself was occupied. In this rough -country where the positions lend themselves to -this sort of semi-regular work, I dare say these -peculiar types of horsemen are extremely effective, -though I question if they would appear to the -same advantage in other parts of the Russian -operations. As a matter of fact one of the -regiments now here was formerly attached to -the Warsaw Front, but was subsequently removed -from that army and sent down to Bukovina as -a place more suited to its qualities.</p> - -<p>We had a bit of bad luck on this position -with our motor-car which we had left -in a dip behind the line. Just as we were -ready to start for home, there came a sharp -rainstorm which so wetted the roads that the -hill we had come down so smoothly on dry -soil proved impossible to go up when wet. -A <em>sotnia</em> of Cossacks pulled us out of our first -mess with shouts and hurrahs, but when night -fell we found ourselves in another just as bad a -few hundreds yards further along. For an hour -we went through the misery of spinning wheels -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_265">265</span> -and racing engines without effect. We had -stopped, by bad luck, in about the only place -where the road was visible from the Austrian -lines, but as it was dark they could not see us. -When the chauffeur lighted his lamps, however, -three shells came over from the enemy, extinguishing -the lamps. About ten in the evening -we started on foot, and walked to a point where -we borrowed a car from the brigade staff, and -went on home. Our own car was extricated at -daylight by a band of obliging Cossacks who -had been on duty all night in the trenches, and -were going into the reserve for a day’s rest.</p> - -<p>Leaving this army corps in the afternoon we -motored further east, and paid our respects to a -brigade of the regular cavalry, composed of -the —th Lancers and the — Hussars, both -crack cavalry regiments of the Russian army, -and each commanded by officers from the Petrograd -aristocracy. The brigade had been in -reserve for three days, and as we saw it was just -being paraded before its return to the trenches. -The —th Lancers I had seen before in Lwow just -after the siege of Przemysl, in which they took -part, at that time fighting in the trenches alongside -of the infantry. I have never seen mounts -in finer condition, and I believe there is no army -on any of the fronts where this is more typical -than in the Russian. On this trip I have been -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_266">266</span> -in at least fifteen or twenty cavalry units, -and, with one exception, I have not seen anywhere -horses in bad shape; the exception had -been working overtime for months without -chance to rest or replace their mounts. The -Colonel of the Lancers I had known before in -Lwow, and he joined me in my motor and rode -with me the 20 versts to the position that -his cavalry was going to relieve at that time. -This gentleman was an ardent cavalryman and -had served during the greater part of the Manchurian -campaign. To my surprise I found that -he had been in command of a squadron of Cossacks -that came within an ace of capturing the -little town of Fakumen where was Nogi’s staff; -and he was as much surprised to learn that I was -attached to Nogi’s staff there as correspondent -for an American paper.</p> - -<p>The Colonel was now in charge of the Lancer -regiment and was, as I learned, a great believer -in the lance as a weapon. “Other things being -equal,” he told me, “I believe in giving the -soldiers what they want. They do want the -lance, and this is proved by the fact that in this -entire campaign not one of my troopers has -lost his lance. The moral effect is good on our -troops, for it gives them confidence, and it is -bad on the enemy, for it strikes terror into their -hearts. Before this war it was supposed that -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_267">267</span> -cavalry could never get near infantry. My -regiment has twice attacked infantry and broken -them up both times. In both cases they broke -while we were still three or four hundred yards -distant, and of course the moment they broke -they were at our mercy.”</p> - -<p>For an hour or more we motored over the dusty -roads before we dipped over a crest and dropped -down into a little village not far from the Dniester, -where were the head-quarters of the regiment that -the Lancers were coming in to relieve. As we -turned the corner of the village street a shrapnel -shell burst just to the south of us, and I have -an idea that someone had spotted our dust as -we came over the crest.</p> - -<p>The cavalry here was a regiment drawn from -the region of the Amur river, and as they were -just saddling up preparatory to going back -into reserve for a much-needed rest, I had -a good chance to note the condition of both -men and mounts, which were excellent. The -latter were Siberian ponies, which make, I think, -about the best possible horses for war that one -can find. They are tough, strong, live on almost -anything, and can stand almost any extremes -of cold or heat without being a bit the worse -for it. These troops have had, I suppose, as -hard work as any cavalry in the Russian -Army, yet the ponies were as fat as butter -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_268">268</span> -and looked as contented as kittens. The -Russians everywhere I have seen them are -devoted to their horses, and what I say about -the condition of the animals applies not only to -the cavalry but even to the transport, to look -at which, one would never imagine that we were -in the twelfth month of war. The Colonel of -the Amur Cavalry gave us tea and begged us -to stay on, but as it was getting late and the -road we had to travel was a new one to us, and -at points ran not far from the lines of the enemy, -we deemed it wiser to be on our way. Some -sort of fight started after dark, and to the south -of us, from the crests of the hills that we crossed, -we could see the flare of the Austrian rockets -and the occasional jagged flash of a bursting -shell; further off still the sky was dotted with -the glow of burning villages. In fact for the -better part of the week I spent in this vicinity -I do not think that there was a single night -that one could not count fires lighted by the -shells from the artillery fire.</p> - -<p>Midnight found us still on the road, but our -Prince, who was ever resourceful, discovered -the estate of an Austrian noble not far from -the main road, and we managed to knock up -the keeper and get him to let us in for the night. -The Count who owned the place was in the -Austrian Army, and the Countess was in Vienna. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_269">269</span></p> - -<div id="i_268" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_268.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>The Russian soldier at meal-time. Ten men share the soup, which is served in a huge pan.</p> -</div> - -<p>Leaving this place early the following morning -we started back for Tarnopol and the Headquarters -of the Army that stands second in the -Russian line of battle counting from the left -flank. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_270">270</span> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_271">271</span></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_272">272</span></p> - -<p class="ph1">ON THE ZOTA LIPA</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_273">273</span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX<br /> - -<span class="large">ON THE ZOTA LIPA</span></h2> - -<p class="author"> -<span class="smcap">Tarnopol</span>,<br /> -<em>July 6, 1915</em>.</p> - -<p class="drop"><span class="smcap">We</span> found the General of the army now -occupying the line that runs from -approximately the head of the Zota Lipa to -its confluence with the Dniester, living in a palace -south-west of ——. These wonderful estates -come as a great surprise to strangers travelling -through the country. One passes a sordid Galician -village filled with dogs and half-naked -children, and perhaps on the outskirts one comes -to a great gate and turning in finds oneself in -a veritable Versailles, with beautiful avenues -of trees, lakes, waterfalls and every other enhancement -of the landscape that money and good -taste can procure. I have never seen more beautiful -grounds or a more attractively decorated and -beautifully furnished house than this one where -our particular General was living with his staff.</p> - -<p>During my visit to this army, I saw and talked -with the General commanding twice, and he -permitted me to see his maps and gave his -consent to my visiting any of his line which I -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_274">274</span> -desired to see. He sent one of his staff with me, -who spoke English, as a guide and interpreter. -Again I regret I cannot give the General’s name, -but suffice to say that from this head-quarters -I gathered that, barring the failure of their centre -army, a retreat would probably have been unnecessary, -though it is folly to disguise the fact -that this army was hard pressed, suffered not -a little, and was constantly outnumbered in -both men and munitions. It is probably not -unfair to place its whole movement under the -category of a rear-guard action.</p> - -<p>During the retreat from Stryj to the Zota -Lipa, where the army was when I visited it, -captures of enemy prisoners were made to the -number of 53,000, as I was informed by the -highest authority. The bulk of these were Austrians. -As I said at the time, I incline to think -this must be considered one of the most remarkable -retreats in history. If I was disposed to -doubt this statement when I first heard it, my -hesitation vanished, when, during three days, -I personally saw between 4,000 and 5,000 Austrian -prisoners that had been taken within a -week, regardless of the fact that the army was -still retiring before the enemy. I think that -the mere mention of the matter of prisoners -is enough to convince the reader that this army -was not a demoralized one, and that the -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_275">275</span> -furthest stretch of imagination could not consider -it a badly defeated one. A glance at the map -serves to show that the country, from the beginning -of this retreat to the Zota Lipa, is an -ideal one in which to fight defensively! and as -a matter of fact the country for 100 versts -further east is equally well adapted to the same -purpose. A number of streams running almost -due north and south flow into the Dniester -river, and as each of these rivulets runs between -more or less pretentious bluffs it is a very simple -matter to hold them with very little fieldworks.</p> - -<p>What the Russians have been doing here is -this. They take up one of these natural lines -of defence and throw up temporary works on -the bluffs and wait for the Austrians. When -the latter come up they find the Russians too -strong to be turned out with anything short of -the full enemy strength. Usually a week is -taken up by the Austro-German forces in bringing -up their full strength, getting their guns -in position and preparing for an attack. The -Russians in the meantime sit on their hills, taking -all the losses that they can get, and repel -the Austrian preliminary attacks as long as they -can do so without risking too much. By the -time that enemy operations have reached a really -serious stage, and an attack in force is made, -it is discovered that the main force of the Russians -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_276">276</span> -has departed, and when the positions -are finally carried, only a rearguard of cavalry -is discovered holding the trenches; the bulk -of these usually get away on their horses, leaving -the exhausted Austrians sitting in a hardly-won -line with the knowledge that the Russians -are already miles away waiting for them to repeat -the operation all over again. The prisoners -have been captured for the most part in preliminary -operations on these works, on occasions -where the Russians have made counter attacks -or where the Austrians have advanced too far -and been cut off. The youth and inexperience -of their officers, and the fact that the rank and -file have no heart in the fight, have made it easy -for them to go too far in the first place, and -willing to surrender without a fight when they -discover their mistake. All of this I was told -at head-quarters, and had an opportunity to -verify the next day by going to one of the -forward positions on the Zota Lipa.</p> - -<p>I have within the last few months, after poking -about on the billiard table terrain of the -Polish Front, acquired a great liking for hills, -protected by woods if possible. I have therefore -picked places on this trip where I could -get to points of observation from which I could -see the terrain without being, shot at, if this could -be avoided with dignity. It was just such a -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_277">277</span> -place as this towards which we headed the next -day. My own impressions were, and still are, -that this army might retire further yet from -its present positions. There are certain reasons -which I cannot divulge at present, but -are no doubt understood in England, that makes -it unwise for these armies to attempt to hold -advance positions if they can fall quietly back -without the sacrifice of any positions which will -have a bad effect on the Russian campaign as -a whole. This particular army with its neighbour -to the south can do this for more than -100 versts without materially impairing its own -<em>moral</em>, and, as far as I can see, without giving -the enemy any other advantage than something -to talk about.</p> - -<p>On the way out to the positions I passed important -bodies of troops “changing front,” for -it is hardly possible to call what I witnessed, -a retreat. They came swinging down the road -laughing, talking and then singing at the top -of their lungs. Had I not known the points -of the compass, I should have concluded that -they had scored a decisive victory and were -marching on the capital of the enemy. But of -such stuff are the moujik soldiers of the Czar.</p> - -<p>We first visited the head-quarters of one of -the Army corps, and then motored through Ztoczow, -a very beautiful little Austrian town lying -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_278">278</span> -just at the gateway between ridges of hills that -merge together as they go eastward, making -the road climb to the plateau land which, indented -by the valleys of the rivers running into -the Dniester, stretches practically for 100 versts -east of here. Turning south from the little -town we climbed up on to this plateau land, -and motored for 15 or 20 versts south to -the head-quarters of a General commanding -a division of Cossack cavalry from the Caucasus. -With him we had tea, and as he spoke excellent -English I was able to gather much of interest -from his point of view. He was not sufficiently -near head-quarters nor of rank high enough -to be taken into the higher councils, and therefore -did not know the reasons for the constant -retirements. Again and again he assured me -that the positions now held could as far as he -was concerned be retained indefinitely. His -was the thankless job of the rear guard, and -it apparently went against his fighting instincts -to occupy these splendid positions and then retire -through some greater strategy, which he, far -off in the woods from everything, did not understand.</p> - -<p>One is constantly impressed with the isolation -of the men holding important minor commands. -For days and weeks they are without -outside news, and many of them have even only -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_279">279</span> -a vague idea as to what is going on in neighbouring -corps, and almost none at all of the -movements in adjoining armies. I was convinced -from the way this General—and he was -a fine old type—talked, that he did not consider -his men had ever been beaten at all, and that -he looked upon his movements merely as the -result of orders given for higher strategic considerations. -From him we went out to the line on -the Zota Lipa. The Russians at this time -had retired from the Gnita Lipa (the great -Austro-German “victory” where they lost between -4,000 and 5,000 prisoners and I know not -how many dead and wounded) and had now -for four days been quietly sitting on the ridges -of the second Lipa waiting for the enemy -to come up. I think no army can beat the -Russians when it comes to forced marches, -and after each of these actions they have retired -in two days a distance that takes the enemy -four or five to cover. It is because of this speed -of travel that there have been stragglers, and -it is of such that the enemy have taken the prisoners -of whom they boast so much. The position -we visited was on a wonderful ridge crested -with woods. The river lay so deeply in its little -valley that, though but a mile away, we could -not see the water at all, but only the shadow -wherein it lay. Our trenches were just on the -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_280">280</span> -edge of it while our guns and reserves were behind -us. From our position we could look into -the rear of our trenches, and across the river -where the country was more open and where -the Austrians were just beginning to develop their -advance. Though the Russians had been here -for several days, the enemy was just coming up now -and had not yet brought up his guns at all.</p> - -<p>Our infantry were sniping at the blue figures -which dotted the wood a verst or two away, but -at such a range that its effect was not apparent. -Our guns had not yet fired a shot, and hence -the Austrians knew nothing of our position but -the fact that they were in contact with snipers -in some sort of a trench. In any case the -Austrians in a thin blue line which one could -see with the naked eye, were busily digging a -trench across a field just opposite us and about -4,000 metres distant, while with my glasses -I could see the blue-clad figures slipping about -on the fringe of the wood behind their trench -diggers. Our observation point was under a -big tree on an advanced spur of the hill, a position -which I think would not be held long after -the arrival of the Austrian guns. The battery -commander had screwed his hyperscope into -the tree trunk, and was hopping about in impatience -because his field wire had not yet come -up from the battery position in the rear. He -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_281">281</span> -smacked his lips with anticipation as he saw -the constantly, increasing numbers of the enemy -parading about opposite without any cover, -and at frequent intervals kept sending messengers -to hurry on the field telegraph corps.</p> - -<div id="i_280a" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_280a.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>Cavalry taking up position.</p> -</div> - -<div id="i_280b" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_280b.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>Russian band playing the men to the trenches.</p> -</div> - -<p>In a few minutes there came a rustle in the -brush, and two soldiers with a reel unwinding -wire came over the crest, and dropping on their -knees behind some bushes a few yards away, -made a quick connection with the telephone -instrument, and then announced to the commander -that he was in touch with his guns. Instantly -his face lit up, but before speaking he -turned and took a squint through his hyperscope; -then with clenched fist held at arms length he -made a quick estimate of the range and snapped -out an order over his shoulder. The orderly -at the ’phone mumbled something into the mouthpiece -of the instrument. “All ready,” he called -to the commander. “Fire,” came the quick -response. Instantly there came a crash from -behind us. I had not realized that the guns were -so near until I heard the report and the shell -whine over our heads. We stood with our glasses -watching the Austrians. A few seconds later -came the white puff in the air appearing suddenly -as from nowhere, and then the report -of the explosion drifted back to us on the breeze. -The shot was high and over. Another quick order, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_282">282</span> -and another screamed over our head, this time -bursting well in front of the trench.</p> - -<p>Through my glasses I could see that there -was some agitation among the blue figures -in the field across the river. Again the gun -behind us snapped out its report, and this time -the shell burst right over the trench and the -diggers disappeared as by magic, and even the -blue coats on the edge of the wood suddenly -vanished from our view. The artillery officer -smiled quietly, took another good look through -the glass at his target, called back an order, -and the battery came into action with shell -after shell breaking directly over the trench. -But as far as we could see there was not a living -soul, only the dark brown ridge where lay the -shallow ditch which the Austrians had been -digging. The value of the shrapnel was gone, -and the Captain sighed a little as he called for -his carefully saved and precious high-explosives, -of which as I learned he had very few to spare. -The first fell directly in an angle of the trench, -and burst with the heavy detonation of the -higher explosive, sending up a little volcano of -dust and smoke, while for a minute the hole -smoked as though the earth were on fire.</p> - -<p>“They are in that place right enough,” was -the verdict of the director, “I saw them go. -I’ll try another,” and a second later another -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_283">283</span> -shell burst in almost the identical spot. That -it had found a living target there could be no -doubt, for suddenly the field was dotted with -the blue coats scampering in all directions for -the friendly shelter of the wood in their rear. -It was an object lesson of the difference in -effectiveness between high explosive and shrapnel. -The Captain laughed gleefully at his -success as he watched the effect of his practice. -Nearly all the Austrians were running, but -away to the right was a group of five, old -timers perhaps who declined to run, and they -strolled leisurely away in the manner of veterans -who scorn to hurry. The Commander again -held out his fist, made a quick estimate of the -range and called a deviation of target and -a slight elevation of the gun. Again the gun -crashed behind us and I saw the shell fall -squarely in the centre of the group. From the -smoking crater three figures darted at full speed. -I saw nothing of the other two. No doubt their -fragments lay quivering in the heap of earth -and dust from which the fumes poured for fully -a minute. It was excellent practice, and when -I congratulated the officer he smiled and clicked -his heels as pleased as a child. We saw nothing -more of the enemy while we remained. No -doubt they were waiting for the night to come -to resume their digging operations. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_284">284</span></p> - -<p>How long the Russians will remain on this -line can be merely speculation. Many of these lines -that are taken up temporarily prove unusually -strong, or the enemy proves unexpectedly weak, -and what was intended as only a halt, gradually -becomes strengthened until it may become the -final line. My own idea was, however, that after -forcing the Austrians to develop their full -strength and suffer the same heavy losses, the -Russians would again retire to a similar position -and do it all over again. It is this type -of action which is slowly breaking the hearts -of the enemy. Again and again they are forced -into these actions which make them develop -their full strength and are taken only when -supported by their heavy guns, only to find, -when it is all over, that the Russians have departed -and are already complacently awaiting -them a few days’ marches further on. This -kind of game has already told heavily on the Austrian -spirits. How much longer they can keep -it up one can only guess. I don’t think they -can do it much longer, as not one of these advances -is now yielding them any strategic benefit, -and the asset of a talking point to be given -out by the German Press Bureau probably does -not impress them as a sufficiently good reason -to keep taking these losses and making these -sacrifices. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_285">285</span></p> - -<p>Leaving the position we returned to our base, -where we spent the night preparatory to moving -on the next day to the army that lies next -in the line north of us, being the third from the -extreme Russian left. My impressions of the -condition and spirit of the army visited this day -were very satisfactory, and I felt as I did about -its southern neighbor—that its movements for -the moment have not a vast importance. It -may go back now, but when the conditions -which are necessary are fulfilled it can almost -certainly advance. Probably we need expect -nothing important for some months here and -further retirements may be viewed with equanimity -by the Allies. Not too far away there -is a final line which they will not leave without -a definite stand and from which I question -if they can be driven at all. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_286">286</span> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_287">287</span></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_288">288</span></p> - -<p class="ph1">A VISIT TO AN HISTORIC ARMY</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_289">289</span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_XXI">CHAPTER XXI<br /> - -<span class="large">A VISIT TO AN HISTORIC ARMY</span></h2> - -<p class="author"> -<span class="smcap">Brody, Galicia</span>,<br /> -<em>July 7, 1915</em>.</p> - -<p class="drop"><span class="smcap">For</span> the next three days I was with the head-quarters -and army of one of the most -remarkable fighting organizations that this war -has produced on any Front. I am not supposed -to mention its number, but I dare say the censor -will let me say that it is that one which has been -commanded for nearly a year now by General -Brussilov. This army, as the reader who has -followed the war with any closeness will remember, -is the one that entered Galicia from the extreme -east in the first week of the war, and -that in thirty days of continuous fighting, with -practically no rail transport, turned the Austrian -right and forced the evacuation of Lwow at -the end of August. In spite of their losses and -exhaustion this army marched right on the -re-inforced Austrian centre and engaged that -force with such ferocity, that when the position -of Rawa Ruska fell the Grodek line collapsed -before its attacks. Still unexhausted -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_290">290</span> -and with practically no rest, the same troops, -or what was left of them, plus reinforcements, -moved on Przemysl, and by their fierce assaults -laid the foundation for what subsequently became -the siege of the Austrian stronghold. But -Brussilov was no man to cool his heels on siege -operations, and when the investment was completed, -his corps swept on past, and began driving -the Austrians back toward the Carpathians.</p> - -<p>As the New Year came, and the weeks passed -by, the whole world watched his devoted troops -forcing back the Austrians and their newly -arrived German supports back into the passes -which had been considered all but impregnable. -He was well through the Dukla and making -headway slowly but surely when the great German -blow fell on the Dunajec. Leaving his successful -operations in the Carpathians, he fell -back rapidly in time to connect with the retreating -army of the Dunajec and temporarily brace -it up for its temporary stand on the San. The -defence of Przemysl fell to the lot of the General, -but as he himself said to me, “There was nothing -but a heap of ruins where had been forts. How -could we defend it?” Still, they did defend -it for as many days as it took the enemy to force -the centre, which had not sufficient forces to -stem the advancing tide that was still concentrated -against them. Even then, as I am assured -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_291">291</span> -by a Staff officer, they hung on until their right -flank division was uncovered and menaced with -envelopment, when once more they were obliged -to withdraw in the direction of the city of Lwow.</p> - -<div id="i_290" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_290.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>After the Russian evacuation of Lwow. The Bug Lancers retreating in good order.</p> -</div> - -<p>In this retreat there is no denying that the -devoted army was hammered heavily, and probably -its right flank was somewhat tumbled up -in the confusion. Nevertheless, it was still full -of fight when the Grodek line was reached. By -this time, however, the greater strategy had decided -on retiring entirely from Galicia, or very -nearly so, to a point which had already been -selected; and the battle on the Grodek line was -a check rather than a final stand, though there is -no question that the Russians would have stopped -had the rest of their line been able to hold its -positions. But the shattered army of the Dunajec, -in spite of reinforcements, was too badly -shaken up, and short of everything, to make -feasible any permanent new alignment of the -position. The action around Lwow was not a -serious one, though it was a hard fought and costly -battle. It was made with no expectation of -saving the town, but only to delay the Germans -while other parts of the line were executing -what the Russians call “their manœuvres.”</p> - -<p>From Lwow to the position where I found -the army, was a rearguard action and nothing -more, and apparently not a very serious one at -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_292">292</span> -that. The best authorities have told me that -the Russians withdrew from Lwow city in a perfectly -orderly manner, and that there was neither -excitement nor confusion, a state of affairs in -great contrast to that which existed when the -Austrians left in September. The Austrian staff -took wing in such hot haste that the General’s -maps, with pencils, magnifying glasses and notes -were found lying on the table just as he had -left them when he hurried from the room. The -Russians may also have panic on occasions, but -if they have I certainly have never seen any -indication of it in any of the operations that -I have witnessed.</p> - -<p>The new line occupied runs from approximately -the head of the Zota Lipa along the -Bug in the direction of Krasne, where the Austrians -hold the village and the Russians the railroad -station, and thence in the general direction -of Kamioka and slightly west of Sokal where -the army which lies between it and the former -army of the Dunajec begins. In going over -this terrain, I was of the opinion that this line -was not designed originally as the permanent -stand; but the removal of German troops from -this Front has sufficiently weakened the Austrians, -so it is quite possible that it may become -the low water mark of the retreat. However, -it is of very little importance, in my opinion, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_293">293</span> -whether the army holds on here, or continues -to retreat for another 60 or 80 versts, where -prepared positions at many points give excellent -defensive opportunities. This army as I found -it is in good shape. It is true that many -of its corps have been depleted but these are -rapidly filling up again. There is reason to believe, -however, that this army is no longer the -objective of the enemy, and that for the present -at least it will not be the object of any serious -attack. Behind it for many versts there is -nothing of sufficient strategic importance the -capture of which would justify the enemy in -the expenditure which will be necessary to dislodge -it.</p> - -<p>I met General Brussilov several times and dined -with him the first evening after spending almost -three-quarters of an hour with him looking at -the maps of the position. I think it would be -impossible for anyone to be a pessimist after -an hour with this officer. He is a thin-faced -handsome man of about fifty-five; in every -respect the typical hard-fighting cavalry officer. -He is just the man one would expect to find -in command of an army with the record that -his has made. I asked him if he was tired after -his year of warfare. He laughed derisively. -“Tired! I should say not. It is my profession. -I shall never be tired.” I cannot of course -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_294">294</span> -quote him on any military utterances, but I left -him with the certainty that he at least was -neither depressed nor discouraged. That he was -disappointed at having to retire is certainly -true; but it is with him as I have found it with -many others—this set-back has made them only -the more ardent for conditions to be such that -they can have another try at it and begin all -over again. All these ranking officers have unlimited -faith in the staying qualities of their -men, and little faith in what the Austrians will -do when the Germans go away. If <em>moral</em>, as -Napoleon says, is three times the value of physical -assets we need have no fear as to the future -where Brussilov is in command of an army.</p> - -<p>The General at once agreed to let me -visit some observation point where I could -have a glimpse of his positions and the general -nature of the terrain. On his large scale map -we found a point that towered more than 200 -metres above the surrounding country, and he -advised me to go there. So on the following -day we motored to a certain army head-quarters, -where the General in command gave us one of -his staff, who spoke English, and an extra motor, -and sent us on our way to a division then holding -one of the front line trenches. Here by a circuitous -route, to avoid shell fire, we proceeded to -the observation point in question. It was one -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_295">295</span> -of the most beautifully arranged that I have ever -visited, with approaches cut in through the back, -and into trenches and bomb-proofs on the outside -of the hill where were erected the hyperscopes -for the artillery officers to study the terrain.</p> - -<p>I could clearly see the back of our own -trenches with the soldiers moving about in them. -In the near foreground almost at our feet was one -of our own batteries carefully tucked away in a -little dip in the ground, and beautifully masked -from the observing eye of the aeroplanist. To -the south lay the line of the Austrian trenches, -and behind that a bit of wood in which, according -to the General who accompanied us, -the Austrians had a light battery hidden away. -Still further off behind some buildings was the -position of the Austrian big guns, and the artillery -officer in command of the brigade, whose -observation point was here, told me that there -were two 12-inch guns at this point, though they -had not yet come into action.</p> - -<p>Directly east of us lay the valley of the Bug, -as flat as a board, with the whole floor covered -with areas of growing crops, some more advanced -in ripeness than others, giving the appearance -from our elevation of a gigantic chessboard. -Away off to the west some big guns -were firing occasionally, the sound of their reports -and the bursting shells drifting back lazily -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_296">296</span> -to us. At one point on the horizon a village -was burning, great clouds of dense smoke rolling -up against the skyline. Otherwise the -afternoon sunshine beat down on a valley -that looked like a veritable farmer’s paradise, -steeped in serenity and peace. For an hour -we remained in this lovely spot, studying every -detail of the landscape, and wondering when -if ever it would be turned into a small hell of -fury by the troops that now lay hidden under -our very eyes. We left shortly before six and -motored back in the setting sunlight to our -head-quarters. Early the next morning I again -went to see General Brussilov and almost the -first thing he told me was that there had been -a stiff fight the night before. The reader may -imagine my disappointment to learn that within -two hours of my departure the Austrians -had launched an attack on the very chessboard -that I had been admiring so much during -the afternoon in the observation station. -From this point, in comparative safety, I could -have watched the whole enterprise from start -to finish with the maximum of clearness and the -minimum of risk. I have never seen a more -ideal spot from which to see a fight, and probably -will never again have such an opportunity -as the one I missed last night.</p> - -<p>I heard here, as I have been hearing now for -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_297">297</span> -a week, that there was a tendency for the Germans -to disappear from this Front, and it was believed -that all the troops that could be safely -withdrawn were being sent in the direction of -Cholm-Lublin, where it was generally supposed -the next German drive against the Russians -would take place. At the moment this point -on the Russian Front represented the serious -sector of their line, and so we determined not -to waste more time here but to head directly -for Cholm and from there proceed to the -army defending that position, the reformed -army of the Dunajec. Leaving that afternoon -we motored back into Russia, where the roads -are good, and headed for Cholm. On the way -up I called at the head-quarters of the army -lying between Brussilov and the army of the -Dunajec (as I shall still call it for identification), -where I lunched with the General in command -and talked with him about the situation. -He freely offered me every facility to visit his -lines, but as they were far distant and the only -communications were over execrable roads which -were practically impossible for a motor, and as -his Front was not then active, it did not seem -worth while to linger when there was prospect -of a more serious Front just beyond. As I am -now approaching the zone which promises to -be of interest in the near future, it is necessary -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_298">298</span> -for me to speak of positions and armies with -some ambiguity if I am to remain in the good -graces of the censor. Suffice to say that the army I -skipped holds a line running from the general -direction of Sokal, along the Bug to the vicinity of -Grubeschow, where it bends to the west, hitting -into a rough and rolling country, with its flank -near a certain point not too far south-east of Cholm.</p> - -<p>I cannot speak authoritatively of this army -as I did not visit the positions, though I know -of them from the maps. I believe from the -organizations attached to it, some of which I -know of from past performances, that this army -is perfectly capable of holding its own position -as it now stands, providing strategy in which it -is not personally involved does not necessitate its -shifting front. If its neighbour on the west should -be able to advance, I dare say that this army -also might make some sort of a move forward.</p> - -<p>It is futile at this time to make any further -speculation. Even at best my judgments in -view of the length of front and shortness of time -at my disposal must be made on extremely -hurried and somewhat superficial observation. -It may be better, however, to get a somewhat -vague idea of the whole front than to get exact -and accurate information from one army, which -in the final analysis may prove to be an inactive -one in which no one is interested. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_299">299</span></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_300">300</span></p> - -<p class="ph1">THE NEW ARMY OF THE FORMER -DUNAJEC LINE</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_301">301</span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_XXII">CHAPTER XXII<br /> - -<span class="large">THE NEW ARMY OF THE FORMER -DUNAJEC LINE</span></h2> - -<p class="author"> -<span class="smcap">Cholm</span>,<br /> -<em>July 11, 1915</em>.</p> - -<p class="drop"><span class="smcap">Ever</span> since I started up the line of armies -from the Bukovina, I have been apprehensive -about the point in the line held by this -army which suffered so badly on its old position -when it was the object and centre of the great -German drive in Galicia. The position which -it occupies from a point perhaps forty odd versts -south-east of Cholm, through a point somewhat -south of Krasnystav to the general direction of -Bychawa, is at present the most serious point -of German advance. It is clear that the capture -of Lublin with its number of railroads centring -there, would paralyse the position of the -whole line. As I have said before, this stroke -doubtless represents the one that the enemy -most gladly would accomplish in their whole -Galician movement, for the pressing of the -Russians back here would probably spell the -evacuation of Warsaw, an object for which the -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_302">302</span> -Germans have spent so many hundreds of -thousands of lives, so far to no purpose.</p> - -<p>As I have crossed a number of the recuperating -fragments of the old Dunajec army in quarters -where they were having comparatively an -easy time, I was curious to see how the new one -was composed. I was received kindly by the -General in command, and soon realized that his -army, save in number, was practically an entirely -new organization built up from corps -that have been taken from all quarters of the -Russian Front for this purpose. The General -himself is new to the command, and so one may -regard this organization quite apart from the -history of the one that bore the burden of the -great Galician drive in May. As soon as I saw -the corps here, I came to the conclusion at once -that the Russians had reached a point where -they intended to make a serious fight. I at -once recognized four corps which I have known -in other quarters of the war, and wherever they -have been they have made a reputation for -themselves. The sight of these magnificent -troops pouring in made one feel that whether -the battle, which every one seems to think is -impending, should be won or lost, it would -be an action of the most important nature. -The new General impressed me as much as -any soldier I have seen in Russia. Heretofore -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_303">303</span> -he has been in command of a corps which -is said to be one of the finest in the whole -Russian Army. I had never seen him until this -visit, and as a matter of fact I had never even -heard of his name. When he came into the -room with his old uniform blouse open he was -a picture of a rough-and-ready soldier. Steel -blue eyes under heavy grey brows and a great -white moustache gave an impression of determination, -relieved by the gentleness that -flickered in the blue of his eyes as well as the -suggestion of sensitiveness about the corners -of his firm mouth. From the first sentence he -spoke, I realized that he meant business, and -that this army, when the time came and -whatever the results might be, would put up a -historic fight.</p> - -<div id="i_302" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_302.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>A Russian eight-inch gun going into position during the fighting round Lublin.</p> -</div> - -<p>At his invitation I went with him later in -the afternoon to look at some new guns that -had just come in. They were very interesting -and encouraging, but cannot be discussed at -present. With them had come new artillerymen, -and the general went about addressing -each batch. His talk was something like this, -freely translated, “Welcome to my command, -my good children. You are looking fit and well, -and I am glad to have you with me. Now I suppose -that you think you have come here to help -me hold back the Germans. Well, you are mistaken. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_304">304</span> -We are not here to hold anybody, but -to lick the enemy out of his boots, and drive -them all clean out of Russia, Poland and Galicia -too, and you look to me like the men that could -do the job.” The Russian soldiers usually cheer -to order, but these soldiers responded with a -roar, and when dismissed ran off to their positions -cheering as long as they could be seen.</p> - -<p>That night I dined with the General. In the -midst of dinner some reinforcements passed up -the street weary and footsore from a long day -on the road. The General, dragging his staff -with him, went out into the street, and stood, -napkin in hand, watching each company as it -passed him and calling to each a word of greeting. -As the men passed one could see that each was -sizing up the chief in whose hands rested their -lives, and the future of their army; one could -read their thoughts plainly enough. “Here is -a man to trust. He will pull us through or die -in the attempt.”</p> - -<p>After dinner I went for a stroll with him, -and he did not pass a soldier without stopping -to speak for a moment. Late in the evening -I saw him walking down the main street of -the primitive little town stick in hand, and -at every corner he stopped to talk with his -men. I have never seen an army where the -relations between officers and men were as they -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_305">305</span> -are in Russia, and even in Russia not such as -between this man and his own soldiers. Already -he has lost his own son in the war, yet -has accepted his loss with a stoicism that reminds -one a little of General Nogi under similar -circumstances. This then is the man to whom -Russia has entrusted what for the moment appears -as her most important front.</p> - -<p>The General permitted Prince Mischersky to -accompany me during my visit to the positions -on the following day. The Prince who is -the personal aide-de-camp of the Emperor, and -a charming man, took me in his own motor, -and early we arrived at the head-quarters of a -certain army corps. From here we drove to -the town of Krasnystav where was the General -of a lesser command. This point, though 14 -versts from the German gun positions, was -under fire from heavy artillery, and two 8-inch -shells fell in the town as we entered, spouting -bricks and mortar in every direction -while great columns of black smoke poured -from the houses that had been struck. While -we were talking with the General in his rooms, -another shell fell outside with a heavy detonation. -From here we visited the division of -another corps, where we borrowed horses and -rode up to their reserve trenches and had a look -at the troops, some of the most famous in Russia, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_306">306</span> -whose name is well known wherever the readers -have followed the fortunes of the war. We were -perhaps 600 or 800 yards from the front line, -and while we chatted with the grizzled old commander -of a certain regiment, the enemy began -a spasm of firing on the front line trench ahead -of us, eleven shells bursting in a few minutes. -Then they suspended entirely and once again -quiet reigned through the woodland in which -our reserves were.</p> - -<p>From here by a narrow path we struck off -to the west and worked our way up into one of -the new front line trenches which are laid out -on an entirely new plan, and have been in course -of preparation ever since the days of the fighting -on the San. They are the best trenches I have -ever seen, and are considerably better in my -opinion than those on the Blonie line in front -of Warsaw which, before this, were the best that -had ever come under my observation. Many -things that I saw during this day led me to the -conclusion that the Russians were doing everything -in their power to prevent a repetition of -the drive on the Dunajec. The German line of -communications here, as I am informed, runs viâ -Rawa Ruska, and owing to the difficulties of the -terrain between where they now stand and the -Galician frontier, it will be very difficult for them -to retire directly south. Success in an action here, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_307">307</span> -then, is of great importance to them. If they attack -and fail to advance, they must count on the -instant depression of the whole Austrian line, -for the Austrians even when successful have -not been greatly enthusiastic. If they are driven -back, they must retire in the direction of Rawa -Ruska, across the face of the army standing -to the east; they must strike west through -Poland, crossing the front of the army lying -beside the Vistula; or they must try to negotiate -the bad roads south of them, which present no -simple problem. If the Russian centre can -give them a good decisive blow there is every -reason to believe that both flanking armies can -participate pretty vigorously in an offensive. -No one attaches much importance to the Austrians -if the Germans can be beaten. As long -as they continue successful, the Austrians, however, -are an important and dangerous part of -the Russian problem. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_308">308</span> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_309">309</span></p> - -<div id="i_306" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_306.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>Russian artillery officers in an observation position during the fighting -round Lublin.</p> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_310">310</span></p> - -<p class="ph1">BACK TO THE WARSAW FRONT</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_311">311</span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_XXIII">CHAPTER XXIII<br /> - -<span class="large">BACK TO THE WARSAW FRONT</span></h2> - -<p class="author"> -<span style="padding-right: 3em">Dated:</span><br /> -<span class="smcap">Warsaw</span>,<br /> -<em>July 24, 1915</em>.</p> - -<p class="drop"><span class="smcap">Leaving</span> Lublin early in the morning we -motored to that certain place where the army -next in line to the one I have last discussed is -stationed. Since I have been away there have -been many changes and much shifting about -of corps, and I find that nearly half of this army -is now east of the Vistula, and its left joins the -right of the one we have just left, the two -together forming the line of defence on Lublin. -As I have been in the army on the Vistula two -or three times before, I find many friends there, -and learn from them of the successful movement -of a few days before when an early Austrian -advance taken in the flank resulted in a loss to -the enemy, of prisoners alone, of 297 officers -and a number reported to be 23,000 men, practically -all of whom are said to be Austrians. -Here as elsewhere great confidence is expressed -as to the position in the south. We are even -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_312">312</span> -told that the bulk of the Germans are now being -shifted to another point, and that the next blow -will fall directly on or north of Warsaw.</p> - -<p>On returning to Warsaw I found that during -our absence there had been a grave panic -caused by the advances in the south, and that -several hundred thousand of the population had -already left, while practically all the better -class had departed a week ago. The hotels -were almost deserted, and the streets emptier -than I have ever seen them. But friends who -are unusually well informed told me that the -danger was past, and the general impression -was that the worst was over on this front. For -two whole days we had a period practically without -rumours or alarms, and then began what -now looks to be one of the darkest periods that -any of us have yet seen here, not even excepting -the panicky days of October last when the -Germans were all but in the city itself. First -came rumours of heavy fighting to the north, -around Przasnys, Lomza, Ciechanow, and reports -of Russian reverses and retirements on a new -line of defence, and forthwith Warsaw was again -thrown into a state of excessive nerves. One -becomes so accustomed to these constant alarms -that they have come to make little impression -on one. The next day a friend coming in from -the armies engaged announced with the greatest -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_313">313</span> -confidence that the situation was better, and -that the new Russian line was in every way better -than the old one and that everything was going -well. Fighting which is reported to be serious -is going on to the south of us, on the Lublin-Cholm -line, but is not causing serious anxiety -here. On the whole nearly all the usually well-informed -persons here felt moderately easy about -the situation.</p> - -<div id="i_312a" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_312a.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>Retreat from Warsaw. Burning crops.</p> -</div> - -<div id="i_312b" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_312b.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>The retreat from Warsaw. A Jewish family leaving Warsaw.</p> -</div> - -<p>Suddenly there came a bolt out of the blue. -With no warning it was announced that the -evacuation of Warsaw had been ordered and -that the civil authorities would leave on Sunday, -July 18. This announcement was not made -until late on Saturday, and immediately began -the tumult of reports of disaster which we who -have sat here through thick and thin know so -well. Personally I should have felt no anxiety, -for there seemed no immediate danger on any -of the near-by fronts, nor serious reverses as far -as was known here on the more distant fronts; -but the order of evacuation was followed up at -once by instructions to the Consul of Great -Britain to be prepared to leave on Monday, -while I believe that the Belgian and French -Consuls received similar notices and are all -departing on that day (to-morrow, July 19). -The American Consul, Hernando Desote, who -already has the German and Austrian interests -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_314">314</span> -in charge, took over the British interests at -twelve o’clock to-day, and will probably do the -same for the interests of the other Allies represented -here in Warsaw.</p> - -<p>In the meantime we hear that the Russians -are falling back on the Blonie line, and that -Zuradov has already been evacuated, which -may or may not be true. It now seems quite -obvious that something has taken place of which -we know nothing, and I have not seen or talked -with an officer who thinks that what is taking -place is due to the local military situation as -far as it is known. The general opinion is that -if the Russians retire it is due purely to the fact -that they have not the munitions to maintain -a sustained attack of the Germans who seem to -be coming over to this front in increasingly large -numbers. For the observer here it is impossible -to know what the Russians have in their -caissons. One who gets about a good deal can -make a guess at the positions, strength and morale -of an army, but the matter of munitions or outside -policy is something which cannot be solved -by the man at the front. There is undoubtedly -a feeling of great discouragement here at present, -and many believe that the Russians have been -bearing the burden now ever since January, -while the Allies for one cause or another have -not been able to start enough of an attack in -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_315">315</span> -the west to prevent the Germans from sending -more and ever more troops over here.</p> - -<div id="i_314" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_314.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>Retreat from Warsaw. A Polish Jew. Note his belongings -tied round a cow’s neck.</p> -</div> - -<p>Russia certainly has neither the industrial system -nor the industrial temperament to supply -herself with what she needs to the same extent as -both France and England. She has been fighting -now for months, with ammunition when she had -it, and practically without it when it failed her. -Month after month she has kept up the unequal -struggle, and there are many here who think -the greater powers that be are going to withdraw -to a shorter line, and await refilling of their -caissons until the time comes when the Allies -can co-operate in the attack on the common -enemy. These matters are purely speculation, -however, for here we know nothing except that -the civil evacuation is going on apace, and that -there are many signs which indicate that it may -be followed by the military within a week or ten -days.</p> - -<p>The Poles are utterly discouraged, the Russians -disgusted and, all things considered, Warsaw -at the present writing is a very poor place -for an optimist. We hear to-day that the fire -brigade has come back from Zuradov, where -buildings which might be of use to the enemy -are said to have been blown up. Poles have -been notified that the Russian Government -would give them free transportation from here, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_316">316</span> -and 14 roubles. Factories which have copper -in their equipment have been dismantled, and -many are already in process of being loaded -on to cars for shipment to Russia proper. I -am told that the State Bank left yesterday for -Moscow, and that they are collecting all the -brass and copper utensils from the building next -door to the hotel. My chauffeur has just come -in and lugubriously announced that benzine -has risen to 15 roubles a pood (I do not know -how that figures out in English equivalent except -that it is prohibitory), when we usually -pay three. In addition the soldiers are collecting -all private stocks, and there are few of the -privately owned cars in the town that have enough -in their tanks to turn a wheel with. In the -meantime another man informs me that they -are tearing down copper telephone and telegraph -wires to points outside of the city, and that our -troops are already falling back on Warsaw. All -of this is very annoying to one who has just -finished writing an optimistic story about the -situation in the South.</p> - -<p>Something like this, then, is the situation in -Warsaw on Sunday night, July 18. It has -never been worse so far as I can judge from my -point of view, but I am of the opinion that -things are not as bad as they look, and that successes -in the South may yet relieve the tension. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_317">317</span></p> - -<div id="i_316" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_316.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>The evacuation of Warsaw. Copper and bells were all taken away before the Russians left.</p> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_318">318</span></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_319">319</span></p> -<p class="ph1">THE LOSS OF WARSAW</p> - -<div id="i_319" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_319.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>The retreat from Warsaw.</p> -</div> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_XXIV">CHAPTER XXIV<br /> - -<span class="large">THE LOSS OF WARSAW</span></h2> - -<p class="author"> -<span style="padding-right: 3em">Dated:</span><br /> -<span class="smcap">Petrograd</span>,<br /> -<em>August 15, 1915</em>.</p> - -<p class="drop"><span class="smcap">The</span> giving up of Warsaw marks the end of a -definite period in the war, and represents -the climax of one of the most remarkable campaigns -in the history of the world. Military records -do not present anything even approaching the -effort which in three months has been made by -the enemy. From the moment they began their -attack on the Dunajec line in early May, until -their entrance into Warsaw, almost exactly three -months later, their campaign has represented one -continuous attack. Every detail seems to have -been arranged, and once the movement started, -men and munitions were fed into the maw of -war without intermission until their objective, -Warsaw, was attained. All of this one must in -justice accord the Germans, for it is their due. -The determination and bravery of their soldiers -in these three months of ghastly sacrifice have -never faltered. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_320">320</span></p> - -<p>Their objective has been attained; but when we -have said this, our admiration for a purpose fulfilled -stops short. Though obtaining Warsaw they -have not secured the results that they believed -Warsaw represented; and I believe it perfectly -safe to say that the capture of Warsaw, without -the inflicting of a crashing blow to the Russian -Army, was perhaps the greatest disappointment -to the Germans which this war has brought them. -I know from conversations with many prisoners, -that generally speaking, every soldier in the -German Army on this Front felt that with the -capture of the great Polish capital, the war -with Russia was practically finished. It was -because this was so earnestly believed that it was -possible to keep driving the soldiers on and on, -regardless of life and of their physical exhaustion.</p> - -<p>The German plan involved the destruction of -the army. They have the husk of victory, while -the kernel, as has happened many times before -in this war, has slipped from their grasp. Everything -that has happened since Warsaw is in the -nature of a secondary campaign, and really represents -an entirely new programme and probably -a new objective or series of objectives. From the -wider point of view, the war against Russia has -begun all over again, and for the present it seems -unwise to discuss or prophesy the outcome of -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_321">321</span> -the vast operations which have taken place since -August 5. But it is a desperate new undertaking -for Germany to enter upon after her incomparable -exertions these last three months.</p> - -<div id="i_320" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_320.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>The retreat from Warsaw. Ammunition on the road.</p> -</div> - -<p>In dealing with such extended operations at -this time, it is impossible to write accurately, -because the Front has been so great that nine-tenths -of the information in regard to details is -not yet available. The writer was for the period -from July 10 to August 5 in daily contact with -this Front, and in that period motored thousands -of versts, was in practically all of the armies involved -in what may be called the Warsaw movement, -and at the positions in innumerable places. -Yet he hesitates to attempt to write anything of -an authoritative nature for the moment, although -he believes the rough outline which follows will -prove approximately accurate when the history -of the movement is written from the broader perspective -which time only can bring.</p> - -<p>It was the opinion of many observers early in -May, including the writer, that Warsaw was -the main objective of the great Galician drive. -The Germans intended first to strengthen the -<em>moral</em> of the Austrians by returning them Galicia, -but probably the greatest value of the capture of -Galicia was the position which left the Germans -on the flank of Warsaw. Since last Autumn it -has been clear that the Germans regarded Warsaw -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_322">322</span> -as the most important strategic prize on this -Front, and those who have followed the war will -recall the constant series of attacks on the Polish -capital. First came their direct advance which -frittered away the middle of December, and left -them sticking in the mud and snow on the Bzura -line in Poland, still 50 versts from their prize. -Spasmodic fighting continued until January, when -their great Bolimov drive was undertaken. Beginning -in the last days of January it continued -for six consecutive days. We are told that ten -divisions backed by 600 guns attacked practically -without interruption for six days and six nights. -I cannot accurately state what the German losses -were, but I know the Russians estimated them to -be 100,000.</p> - -<p>It was clear that Warsaw was not to be taken -from the front, and as the last gun was being -fired on the Bolimov position, the new Prussian -flanking movement was launched in East Prussia. -This, though scoring heavily in its early days, soon -dissipated as the Russians adjusted themselves -to the shock. That was followed instantly by -another series of operations directed against Warsaw -from the North. This too went up in smoke, -and for several weeks there was a lull, interrupted -here and there by preliminary punches in different -parts of the line, intended to discover weakness -which did not appear. By April it was clear that -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_323">323</span> -Warsaw was not vulnerable from the front or -North. Then followed the great Galician campaign -which ended with the fall of Lemberg, and by the -end of June left the Germans in their new position -with the southern flank of the armies in Poland -prepared for their final drive for Warsaw on the -South. From the light which I have on this -campaign I will try and give the sketch as it -has appeared to me.</p> - -<div id="i_322a" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_322a.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>During the retreat from Warsaw.</p> -</div> - -<div id="i_322b" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_322b.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>Russian armoured motor-car.</p> -</div> - -<p>There is no question that the German strategy -aimed not merely at the capture of Warsaw, but -at the destruction or capture of the greater part -of the army defending the Polish capital. The -German programme was carefully prepared, and -this time they had no isolated movements, but -two great movements developing simultaneously; -one aimed to cut the Warsaw-Petrograd lines -from the North, and the other aimed at Warsaw -from the South. The time which has elapsed is -not sufficient, nor is the information available, -to enable one to judge at this time whether the -Northern or Southern movement was the main -German objective. I was in the Cholm-Lublin -Army head-quarters just before the heavy fighting -began, and was then of the opinion that the most -important German activity was contemplated -on this sector. It is apparent by a glance at the -map, that an overwhelming success here would -have been of incredible importance to the enemy. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_324">324</span> -Had they been able to destroy this army as -they did the one bearing the same number -on the Dunajec in May, they could have moved -directly on Brest-Litowsk by Wlodava and cut -the Warsaw line of communications to the direct -rear 180 versts away. A rapid success here would -have certainly resulted in just the disaster that -the Germans were hoping would be the outcome -of their programme.</p> - -<p>The movement on the North from the direction -of Mlawa toward Przasnys-Ciechanow was of -course a direct threat on the Warsaw-Petrograd -line of communications. Success here would have -forced the evacuation of the city and a general -change of the Russian line; but even had it been -a sweeping one, it had not the potentialities of the -calamity which a similar success on the Cholm -line would have had. Perhaps the Germans estimated -both to be of approximately equal importance, -and a double success, occurring simultaneously, -would have undoubtedly repeated the -Moukden fiasco on an infinitely larger scale. It -must be remembered that when this movement -started, the Russians in the South were at the -end of a gruelling campaign of nearly two months’ -continuous warfare, in which, through lack of -munitions, they were obliged to withdraw under -difficult and extremely delicate circumstances. -The army defending the Cholm-Lublin line was in -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_325">325</span> -name the same that had been so very badly cut -up six weeks earlier, and the Germans no doubt -believed that every one of the Russian Armies -engaged from the Bukowina to the Vistula had -been so badly shaken up that any effective resistance -would be impossible. It was because their -estimate was so far out that their programme -was doomed to disappointment.</p> - -<div id="i_324" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_324.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>The retreat from Warsaw. Wounded in a barn outside Warsaw.</p> -</div> - -<p>My own observation of the Russian Armies is -that if they are given a fortnight, or even a week, -in which to recuperate, they are good for a month -of continuous fighting. With almost any other -army in the world, after such an experience as the -Russians had had for six weeks in Galicia, the -defence on the Cholm-Lublin line would have -failed, and the Germans might well have driven -through to Brest in two or three weeks, as they -no doubt firmly believed that they would. But -the Russians on the Cholm-Lublin line had the -benefit of interior lines of communications, and -had also the brief breathing space which enabled -them to pull themselves together. Besides this, a -new General, General Loesche, was in command, -and with him were an important number of the -best corps in the Russian Army. Excellent field -works had been prepared, and personally, after -visiting the positions I felt sure that whatever -the outcome of the German move against him -might be, it would not result in anything like the -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_326">326</span> -Dunajec enterprise, nor would the enemy be able -to drive through to Brest with sufficient rapidity -to cut off the retreat of the Warsaw army or those -lying south of it. The movement in the South -started with such terrific impetus, that for several -days it seemed possible that in spite of the stamina -and leadership of the Russians the enemy would -have their way; but after ten days of fighting -it became clear that though the enemy were advancing, -their progress was going to be of so slow -and arduous a nature that they would never be -able to inflict a smashing disaster on the Russian -Armies.</p> - -<p>The details of the battles that raged here for -weeks would fill a volume. Although I visited -this army several times during this stage, and was -in four different corps on this Front, I have still -but the vaguest outline in my own mind of the -fighting except as a whole. Every day there was -something raging on some part of the line, first -in one place and then in another. The Germans -used the same practice that was so successful in -Galicia and massed their batteries heavily. This -method, backed by the Prussian Guards, enabled -them to take Krasnystav. The best trenches that -I have ever seen in field operations were washed -away in a day by a torrent of big shells. The -Russians did not retreat. They remained and -died, and the Germans simply marched through -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_327">327</span> -the hole in the line, making a change of front -necessary.</p> - -<div id="i_326" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_326.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>The retreat from Warsaw. German prisoners housed in a barn. Note the Russian soldiers have -German rifles.</p> -</div> - -<p>But this time there was no disorganization of -the line as a whole. The moment the Germans -were beyond their supporting artillery, the Russian -infantry were at their throats with the bayonet -and drove them back. The fighting from day to -day for weeks was a great zig-zag, with German -advances and retreats before Russian counter-attacks. -But each advance left the enemy a -little nearer their objective, and it was clear that -slowly but surely they were, by superior forces, -vastly superior supplies of ammunition and a -constant flow of reserves, forcing the Russians -back toward the Lublin-Cholm-Kovel line of -railroad. It became equally obvious however -after ten days that they would never reach Brest -in time to menace seriously the future of the -Warsaw army, even if they could and would spare -the men to turn the trick.</p> - -<p>As a fact it became apparent here for almost -the first time, that the Germans in spite of their -anxiety to attain their objective, were endeavouring -to spare their troops. For the first time I -heard the general comment among officers, that -the artillery was now the main arm in modern -warfare, and the infantry its support. I think -this potential failure of their programme dawned -on the Germans even before it did on the Russians; -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_328">328</span> -for while all eyes were still on the Southern Front, -the Germans were reinforcing and pushing their -Northern attack which aimed to hit through -Pultusk and Wyszkow to the Petrograd-Warsaw -line at Lochow. Perhaps after the first two weeks -in the South this really was their greatest aim. -Personally I think their chance for inflicting a -disaster slipped when they failed to defeat definitely, -or destroy the army of Loesche. To him -and to the left flanking corps of Evert, must be -accorded the credit of saving this sector with all -its menaces to the future of the campaign and -perhaps the whole European situation. For the -last two weeks before the abandonment of Warsaw, -these two great battles, one in the North and one -in the South, were raging simultaneously.</p> - -<p>I left Cholm for the last time on July 22, feeling -that the fate of Warsaw would not be decided -from that quarter, and, for the balance of the -campaign, divided my time between the South -Vistula armies and those defending the Narew line. -It now became clear that the great menace lay -from the Northern blow, and here we have a -very similar story to that of the Southern army. -With terrific drives the enemy took Przasnys, -Ciechanow, Makow and at last Pultusk, and finally -succeeded in getting across the Narew with ten -divisions of excellent troops. On this Front, to -the best of my judgment, the Germans at this time -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_329">329</span> -had 131 battalions of their very best available -troops and perhaps fifteen reserve battalions with -their usual heavy artillery support. When the -crossing of the Narew was accomplished it seemed -inevitable that Warsaw must fall and immediately -the civil evacuation of the city began.</p> - -<div id="i_328" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_328.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>The retreat from Warsaw. Artillery on the road.</p> -</div> - -<p>It seemed then that the Germans might in a -few days drive through to the railroad, and to -save the army in Warsaw an immediate evacuation -in hot haste would prove imperative. But the -Russian Army defending this sector rallied just -as their brothers did in the South. The German -drive on Wyszkow took them within 4 versts -of the town, while the Russian counter-attack -threw them back fifteen, with heavy losses -in casualties and prisoners. Then there began -here the same sort of slow stubborn fighting that -for weeks had been progressing in the South; only -here the German advances were slower, and the -attainment of their objective less certain. About -the same time (July 25-26) the Germans made a -try on the Warsaw line itself, but failed miserably, -and abandoned any serious effort against the -new Blonie line to which the Russians, in order -to get the most out of their men and to shorten -their line, had withdrawn. It must never be -forgotten that the Russian Front was 1,200 miles -long, and the inability to supply it with men and -munitions had made it necessary to shorten their -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_330">330</span> -Front to get the best results from their numbers. -It is hard to say what numbers both belligerents -had, and even if I knew exactly our strength the -censor would not pass my statement. I think -it safe to say however, that during these days the -Austro-German forces outnumbered the Russians -by at least 50 per cent., counting effectives -only. This shortening left simply Warsaw itself -with its Blonie line from Novo-Georgievsk to -Gorakalwara in Russian hands west of the -Vistula.</p> - -<p>By the 27th-28th of July there came a wave of -hope, and those who had lost all optimism picked -up their courage once more. I know from the -very best authority that up to August 1 it was -hoped that Warsaw might still be saved, though -every preparation was being made for its evacuation. -The cause of this burst of optimism was -due to the fact that the terrific German blows -both North and South were not gaining the headway -that had been expected. Besides, the Russians -were getting more and more ammunition, -and it seemed more than possible that the Germans -might fail of their objective if only they did not -receive increasing reinforcements. These two great -battles North and South, each seeming equally -important, had drawn everything that could be -spared to either one point or the other. It was -clear then that there must be some link in the -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_331">331</span> -chain weaker than the others, and the Germans -set out to find this.</p> - -<div id="i_330" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_330.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>During the retreat from Warsaw. Note wounded man.</p> -</div> - -<p>Without weakening for a moment their attacks -on their main objectives, they began (with new -reinforcements) to spear about for a point against -which to launch still a third attack. Several -attempts disclosed the Russians in strength, but -at last the enemy discovered that the weakest spot -was on the Vistula south of Warsaw. As this was -the easiest to defend on account of the river -being approximately the line, the Russians had -fewer troops and thus the Germans were able -to effect a crossing of the river. I am not able -to state absolutely the day or the place of crossing, -but I am inclined to place it about July 27-28, -and I think the first crossing was near the mouth -of the Radomika, while I believe another was made -about the same date somewhere near the mouth -of the Pilica river. The enemy gained an initial -advantage at first, but as usual was driven back -by a counter-attack, though he still held his -position on the East bank of the river.</p> - -<p>At this time, as nearly as I can estimate, there -were four Russian army corps defending the Blonie -line from Novo-Georgievsk to Gorakalwara. With -this strength the few sporadic attacks of the Germans -were futile. When the first crossing of the -Vistula developed, the corps which stood near -Gorakalwara crossed the river and countered -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_332">332</span> -the northerly crossing, while troops from the -neighbouring army to the South, covered the -menace on that portion of the line, and it was -believed that the enemy had failed here in his -objective which it was thought was the Warsaw-Brest -line at Nova Minsk. It was believed and -probably rightly, that even the three remaining -corps on the Blonie line could hold that front, and -that the balance had been re-established, for the -Russians hoped that the Germans had in their -fighting line all the loose formations which were -immediately available. About July 30-August 1, -the Germans developed three new divisions (believed -to have come from France), and these crossed -the river, giving them practically two whole corps -against half the strength of Russians. It is -possible that even these odds might have been -overcome by the stubbornness of the Russian -soldier, but the Russians learned that three Austrian -divisions, said to have come from the Serbian -Front were available in immediate support.</p> - -<div id="i_332" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_332.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>The retreat from Warsaw. One of the last regiments to pass through Warsaw.</p> -</div> - -<p>From this moment it was evident that Warsaw -was doomed. To weaken the Front on the Blonie -line meant a break there, and re-inforcements -could not be sent either from the Narew line or -the Southern Front where actions still raged. -It was then clearly a mate in a few moves, if the -Russians waited for it. But they did not. Instantly -began their military evacuation, the cleverness -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_333">333</span> -of which must I think be credited to Alexieff -and his brilliant Chief of Staff Goulevitch. Those -of us who have been studying the Warsaw situation -for ten months, imagined that when the evacuation -came, if it ever did, it would be through the city. -What happened was entirely unexpected. The -corps at Gorakalwara slipped over the river on -pontoon bridges in the night, supporting the first -corps that was already there, effecting the double -purpose of getting out of the Warsaw zone, and -simultaneously coming in between the Germans -and the line of retreat toward Brest. About the -same time the corps that lay next to the Vistula, -on the Northern end of the Blonie line, slipped -out over pontoon bridges and went to support -the Narew defenders, thus making impossible the -immediate breaking of that line. On August 4, -by noon, there was probably not over one corps on -the West side of the Vistula. Half of that crossed -south of Warsaw before six, and probably the last -division left about midnight, and at three a.m. -the bridges were blown up. The Germans arrived -at six in the morning, which seemed to indicate -that they were not even in touch with the Russian -rearguard at the end.</p> - -<p>What I have written above is to the best of my -information the outline of the Warsaw situation, -but it may be in details somewhat inaccurate, -though I think the main points are correct. In -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_334">334</span> -any case there is no question that the whole withdrawal -was cleverly accomplished, and in perfect -order, and that when the Germans finally closed -in, they found an abandoned city. Their reports of -having carried Warsaw by storm are undoubtedly -true to the extent that they were in contact with -some of the last troops to leave. Probably the -trenches that they carried by storm were held by a -battalion or two of soldiers protecting the rearguard. -That the great body had gone long before -the Germans know perfectly well, and their claims -of having carried the city by assault would, I -dare say, bring a smile even to the stolid face of -the German soldier.</p> - -<p>During all these operations the Germans had at -least five shells to the Russians, one, and but for -this great superiority they never would have -pushed back either the line of the Narew or the -Cholm-Lublin line. Russia could not convert her -resources into ammunition, and Germany, who for -forty years has lived for this day, could. To this -fact she owes her capture of Warsaw. The Allies may -be assured that Russia stayed until the last -minute and the last shell, and then extricated -herself from an extremely dangerous position, -leaving the enemy to pounce on the empty husk -of a city from which had been taken every movable -thing of military value. The defence of and final -escape from Warsaw is one of the most spectacular -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_335">335</span> -and courageous bits of warfare that history presents, -and undoubtedly the fair-minded German admits -it in his own heart regardless of the published -statements of the Staff. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_336">336</span> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_337">337</span></p> - -<div id="i_334" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_334.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>Siberians leaving the last trench before Warsaw.</p> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_338">338</span></p> - -<p class="ph1">CONCLUSION</p> - -<div id="i_339" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_339.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>A batch of German prisoners captured during the retreat from Warsaw. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_339">339</span></p></div> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_XXV">CHAPTER XXV<br /> - -<span class="large">CONCLUSION</span></h2> - -<p class="author"> -<span style="padding-right: 3em">Dated:</span><br /> -<span class="smcap">Petrograd</span>,<br /> -<em>September 2, 1915</em>.</p> - -<p class="drop"><span class="smcap">A great</span> deal has happened since the Fall -of Warsaw which one must regret, but -at the same time the incidents or disasters must -be viewed in their proper perspective. The loss of -Kovno, Novo-Georgievsk and many other positions -are all unfortunate, but must I think be taken as -by-products of the loss of Warsaw. With these -enormous extended fronts which modern war -presents for the same time, there always develop -certain points on the line which may be called -keystones. In the Galician campaign, the Dunajec -line and Gorlice was the keystone. Once this was -pulled out and a number of corps eliminated, the -whole vast line from the Vistula to the Bukovina -was thrown into a state of oscillation. Once the -withdrawal of one army started, the whole line, -even to the Warsaw Front, was affected. Armies -such as the Bukovina army, which was actually advancing -for ten days after the first attack began -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_340">340</span> -hundreds of miles away, first halted and finally -had to come back to maintain the symmetry of the -whole. A great Front, changing over hundreds -of versts, means that the whole line can stop only -when the weakest unit can stop. A chain is no -stronger than its weakest link and the same is -roughly true of a Front.</p> - -<p>We saw this clearly in Galicia. It has been -apparent to every one that Warsaw was the -keystone of the campaign in Poland. Once Warsaw -was given up under the conditions which then -existed, everything that has happened could have -been foreseen. It was clear to all on this Front -who had followed these movements closely, that -the next line would be far in the rear, and that -when the general change of Front came, many -places would have to be sacrificed. Novo-Georgievsh -as a matter of course was doomed. Its -function was to protect the flank of the Warsaw -defences. It actually held out for two weeks after -Warsaw was abandoned, and this delay to the -Germans enabled the Russians to get their army -clear of a dangerously active pursuit. Fortresses -in modern war must, as many believe, be regarded -as checks to the mobility of an enemy, rather -than as permanent blocks to his progress. Noro-Georgievsh -was this, and certainly justified the loss -of the garrison and the cost of its construction. -Liége is a still better example. Certainly no -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_341">341</span> -fortress can withstand modern big guns, and if by -their sacrifice they play their part in the game, -they have more than served their ends. To hold -on to a fortress with a large garrison only magnifies -its importance, creates a bad moral effect -when it falls, and entails the loss of a field army. -Perhaps the Austrian conduct of Przemysl will become -the historic warning in future wars as what -not to do with fortresses. From an extremely -intimate contact of the terrain, I felt certain that -the next jump from Warsaw would be Brest-Litowsk. -I had visited that place five or six -times and felt equally sure that if the Germans -made a definite bid for it, it would not be defended. -The Russians knew this, and in the army there -was no keen disappointment at its loss; for -I think no one who knew conditions expected -that there would be a big battle there, though -many believed that the enemy would never try -seriously to go further. That they have done so is -looked upon by many as a mistake of the Germans. -Time only can tell. The Russians are now on the -move to another line. The enemy may continue -to follow, but in this district one does not see any -point the capture of which can have any great -benefit which they could ensure before winter sets -in. The only result which can seriously assist them -is the capture of Petrograd, and even this would -not, I believe, insure a peace with Russia. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_342">342</span></p> - -<div id="i_340" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_340.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>Refugees on the road to Brest-Litovsk.</p> -</div> - -<p>As a matter of fact it seems to the writer pretty -certain that the enemy will not reach half way to -Petrograd before the winter sets in, and after that -its capture is increasingly unlikely. Once one -has left the Front one obtains more accurate news -as to the situation on this line of battle from the -foreign papers than from any other source. In -Petrograd, in civilian circles, there is great pessimism -as to the military situation, but this is not -shared by those who are in the confidence of the -highest authorities. The only danger that seriously -and immediately menaces the Russians is rapidly -passing away. It was dangerous because it was -insidious. It is certainly worth discussion.</p> - -<p>It was of course to be expected that the moment -the Russian Armies left Warsaw and the entire -line began to retire on new positions, there should -be a period of great ambiguity. For several weeks -the armies were in constant movement, and from -day to day their exact positions were uncertain. -As they went back, they obviously left many towns -and positions behind them, with the result that -for weeks the Germans have been having a continuous -celebration over their advances. During -this period very little news was available in -Petrograd, which at the best is pessimistic and -quick to jump at conclusions of disaster. There is -here, as all the world knows, an enormous German -influence, and whenever the military situation is -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_343">343</span> -in the least ambiguous, there start immediately -in a thousand different quarters reports of disaster -which in an hour are all over Petrograd. -That these reports originate from German sympathizers -is hardly questioned, and that the whole -propaganda is well organized is equally certain.</p> - -<div id="i_342" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_342.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>Roll call during the retreat from Warsaw. All that was left of them.</p> -</div> - -<p>The past two weeks has found Petrograd in a -receptive mood for gloomy news, and inasmuch as -nothing of a favourable nature has come from -the Russian Army, the German propaganda of -insidious and subtle rumours and reports has -run through the city like a prairie fire after a -drought. Three main themes have been worked -up and circulated for all that they would stand. -It was said first that there was lack of harmony -among the Allies, and that the Russian high -authorities were not satisfied with the conduct of -the war in the West. The corollary of this of -course was that without harmony the cause was -lost. Next came the assertion that the army was -demoralized, and had lost hope and therefore -wanted peace. Then the shortage of ammunition -was magnified until half the gullible population -were almost willing to believe that the army were -fighting with pitchforks and shotguns. Out of all -this came the assertion that peace was inevitable -and that the Germans would take Petrograd. -For a week or more these topics circulated and -grew with such alarming rapidity that at last -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_344">344</span> -the Government was obliged to take notice of the -propaganda, which was finally squelched by a -statement issued to <cite>The Times</cite> and the Russian -Press by M. Serge Sazonov, the distinguished and -clever minister of Foreign Affairs.</p> - -<p>In this interview the Russian statesman, speaking -for the Government, made a categorical denial of -the slanders against the Government and the -Russian people. He stated without reservation -that there was not now, nor had there ever been, a -lack of harmony between the military or civil -authorities of the Allies, and announced that the -Russian Government not only approved of, but had -implicit faith in the programme of the Allies in -the West. He then discussed the munitions -question, and asserted that all steps were being -taken to fill depletions in all branches of the army -requirements, and lastly he stated once and -for ever that there would be no independent -peace with Germany while a single German soldier -remained on Russian soil and that the war would -continue even if the Government were obliged to -retire to the heart of Russia and the contest -continued for years to come. This statement has -had an immediate effect on the local panic-mongers -here, and for the moment there is a lull in the -German propaganda.</p> - -<div id="i_344" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_344.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>Resting during the retreat from Warsaw.</p> -</div> - -<p>In the meantime it is becoming obvious that -the Germans in spite of their following up of -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_345">345</span> -the retiring Russians are not likely to achieve -any successes which can immediately affect the -political situation. If they take Riga and Grodno, -and even Vilna, they have done their worst for -some months to come, and one cannot see what -they can accomplish further before winter sets in. -If the campaign at this stage were in June one -might feel apprehensive of Petrograd, but under -the most favourable conditions it is difficult to -see how the Germans can get even halfway here -before November. By that time they will be -on the verge of the winter with the ground freezing -so deeply that intrenching is difficult, if not impossible, -and every advance must be made with -terrific losses. Their attempts to conduct warfare -in Poland (a much milder climate) in winter, are -too recent a memory to lead one to believe they -will repeat it here. It will be remembered that -their advance on the Bzura-Rawka line froze up -when winter came, and the sacrifice of thousands -did not advance them materially at that point -in spite of their most determined efforts. I think -one may say, then, that what the Germans cannot -accomplish before November they will not attempt -until Spring. The pessimism and hopelessness of -Petrograd seem to be on the wane, and the reports -from the Front now arriving do not indicate either -demoralization or despair in the army.</p> - -<p>Probably one must expect retirements and rearguard -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_346">346</span> -actions for some weeks to come. Ultimately -the Russians will settle down on some new line -from which it is extremely unlikely that they can -be driven before the winter sets in. One hesitates -to make any prophecies, as conditions change so -rapidly that it is always dangerous to do so, but -perhaps it is safe to say that with the coming of -the winter and the definite lull in the campaign -which will follow, the Russians will have passed their -crisis. Given four months of rest and recuperation -we shall have an entirely new situation in the -beginning of next year which will present an -entirely new problem. It will really mean the -starting of a new war with new objectives and -practically with a new and re-equipped army.</p> - -<p>There may be those who are disappointed, but -history, I believe, will conclude that this summer -campaign of the Russians has been the greatest factor -so far in the war making for the ultimate victory -of the Allies. For nearly four months Germany -has been drained of her best. Men and resources -have been poured on this Front since May regardless -of cost. Autumn approaches with the armies -in being, undemoralized and preparing to do it all -over again. In the meantime the Allies are preparing -to begin on the West, or at least it is generally -so believed. When they do at last start, Germany -will for months be occupied in protecting herself, -and will probably be unable to act so vigorously -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_347">347</span> -here. If Russia gets over the period of the next -sixty days, she will be safe until Spring, and -by that time she will without doubt be able to -take up an offensive in her turn.</p> - -<div id="i_346a" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_346a.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>Wounded returning to Warsaw.</p> -</div> - -<div id="i_346b" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_346b.jpg" alt="" /> -<p>On the banks of the River Dniester. Cossack snipers in the woods -overlooking the river.</p> -</div> - -<p>After months of observation of the Germans it -is folly to speculate on how long they can stand -this pace. It may be for six months, and it may -be for two years, but with the Allies patiently -wearing down the enemy month after month -and year after year there can be but one end. -That Russia has played her part, and played it -heroically, I think no one, even the Germans -themselves, can deny. There are some that like -to believe that the enemy will try to get Moscow -and Kiev before winter sets in. The former -objective seems impossible, and the latter even if -obtained would, I believe, in no way compensate -the enemy for his sacrifices, for the nature of -the country is such that all advances could only -be at terrific cost. Besides, Kiev, even if taken, -would not, I think, have any tangible effect -on forcing Russia to make peace, and this end -alone can justify the Germans in making further -huge sacrifices.</p> - -<p>There are many who maintain that Russia -will find it difficult to reconquer Galicia and -Poland. Probably she will never have to do so. -It is perfectly possible that when the end comes, -Germany will still be on the territory of France, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_348">348</span> -Belgium, and Russia. Peace will bring back instantly -all of these provinces without any fighting -at all. It matters not, then, whether Germany is -broken while still in the heart of Russia or under -the walls of Berlin itself. The task is to break -the enemy and that this will be done eventually -I think cannot be doubted. It is the stamina, -the character and the resources of the Allies that -in the end will decide this war, and nothing is -more unwise than to judge the situation from -the study of pins moved back and forward on -the map of Europe.</p> - -<p class="small center">Printed in Great Britain by Butler & Tanner Frome and London</p> - -<p> </p> -<div class="transnote"> -<h3>Transcriber's Note:</h3> - -<p>Inconsistent spelling and hyphenation are as in the original.</p> -</div> - -<p> </p> -<hr class="full" /> -<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE RUSSIAN CAMPAIGN***</p> -<p>******* This file should be named 51551-h.htm or 51551-h.zip *******</p> -<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> -<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/5/1/5/5/51551">http://www.gutenberg.org/5/1/5/5/51551</a></p> -<p> -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed.</p> - -<p>Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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